Plants and Animals

The lower mountainsides are covered with forests of oak, chestnut, and beech. Above these is a belt of evergreens, including spruce and fir. From 5,000 to 6,000 feet (1,500-1,800 m), the forests thin out, and are replaced by meadows and high pastures. Here grow such Alpine flowers as edelweiss and primrose. Above the snow line, at 8,000 to 10,000 feet (2,400-3,000 m), are only snow, ice, and bare rock. The term “Alpine” is used to describe roughly similar climate and vegetation in high mountainous areas in many parts of the world.

The chamois (an antelope) and the ibex (a wild goat) are native to the Alps, but are rare. Hunting is regulated strictly.