What is the highest mountain in Europe?
Mount Elbrus in Russia's Caucasus Mountains, at 5,642 meters, is usually called the highest mountain in Europe. If the Caucasus is not counted as Europe, Mont Blanc in the Alps is the highest, at about 4,806 meters.
Elbrus is a dormant volcano with two summits, the western one slightly higher. It lies near the border with Georgia. Whether it counts as part of Europe depends on where the boundary between Europe and Asia is drawn. Many geographers and mountaineers place the boundary along the Caucasus watershed, putting Elbrus in Europe.
Mont Blanc, on the border between France and Italy, is the highest mountain in the Alps and in Western Europe. Its height changes slightly from year to year because its summit is covered by a thick cap of ice and snow. The first recorded ascent was in 1786.
The Seven Summits
Mountaineers who aim to climb the highest peak on every continent, the Seven Summits, usually include Elbrus as Europe's peak. Other famous Alpine peaks include the Matterhorn and the Eiger in Switzerland.
Did You Know?
The Mont Blanc Tunnel, opened in 1965, runs about 11.6 kilometers under the mountain, connecting France and Italy.