The alps

The alps

1. 12 million people visit the alps each year,the alps formed by african and eurasion plate- location: europe goes through italy france and switzerland, activities: FARMING AND FORESTRY- The valley floor is best a it is flat and soils are deepers, shelter from the winds and all communication links are here. Farms are often on the south facing slope where it is warmer and drier. Dairy farmers move their animal around depeneding on the season, in winter they are in the valley near the farm and are stall fed in barns, whereas in summer they go up the hills to graze. Modern changes include the use of quad bikes and cable cars to access upland pastures. Farmers use artificial feeds in their valley so cattle are less likely to go to higher ground. Farmer can then stay home all year round. Coniferous trees cover many of the slopes, especially north facing. wood is plentyful so the main building material and is also made into pulp/paper. sawmills are loacted on valley floors, near to rivers.

   • Tourism- more than 120 million people visit the alps each year. Physical advantages are climbers, skiiers, walkers, and scenery lookers. Skiing expanded in the 1950's to places like france. the area attracts people because : # beautiful winter scenery, snow capped mountains, #lakeside summer resorts eg Garda, #sports like skiing and toboggan runs, #climate of sunshinewith good snowfall in winter and sunshine in the summer.tourism meant new roads, hotels, hopital, restaurants were built benefiting locals too. One worry is that Alpine winters are warming and becoming less snowy, more people are skiing on worn slopes which damages the vegetation and the surface below and therefore increasing the rik of soil erosion.
     • Hyro-electric power and industry- steep slopers and high precipitaiton along with melting glaciers in summer, produce fast flowing rivers that are used to generate HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER. Narrow valley are dammed to store water, the energy attracts sawmills, aluminium melting and power is exported. some power is also exported to other regions to supply towns and cities.TIMBER- conferious trees grow to 1800m so this is a major industry. The wood is used for fuel, building and manufacturing paper.
       • Problems- the steep sided valleys make building hard and communication difficult. little flat land for farming and growing seaon is short as there is short summers and long winters. Avalanches and rock falls are hazardous and can cut communities off, so shelters, wooden fences and other safety meaures need to be taken. population density is low however in the alp it is higher becaue of tourism from other countries. ROADS- modern roads tunnels sucha mont blanc, have replaced old routes over high passes, many electrified railways link the alpine valleys to the cities; rail tunnels under the alps include the Brenner and St Bernard. Mountain cog railways, cable cars and chair lifts link the valley floor to high level benchers and ski slopes above them.