Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe (if we regard the Caucasus, q.v., as Asiatic), 15,782 feet above sea-level, is situated in France, close to the Italian frontier, 40 miles S. of the Lake of Geneva. The waters which spring from its western slopes are drained off to the Rhone, those which originate on the east side to the Po. It rises into several sharp peaks (aiguilles) and forms great glaciers—the Glacier du Géant, Mer de Glace, &c. In 1760 Saussure offered a prize for the discovery of a practicable route to the summit of Mont Blanc, which was gained, in June 1786, by Balmat and Paccard, guides. Saussure himself ascended the mountain the following year; and since Albert Smith published a description of his ascent in 1851 the mountain has been ascended by several hundreds; indeed, more than fifty parties climb it annually. It has been the most conspicuous for accidents of all Alpine peaks; twenty-four persons had perished in accidents on it down to 1886. There is an observatory (1890) at a height of 14,470 feet. See ALPS; and Whymper's Guide to Chamouni and the Range of Mont Blanc (1896).