The Alps contain Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the range.
Mont Blanc rises to about 4,806 metres, although its measured snow and ice summit elevation varies slightly over time. The mountain stands in the Mont Blanc massif on the France–Italy border and is the highest point in the Alps.
The Alps arc across eight countries: France, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia. They are among Europe’s most important mountain systems, influencing climate, rivers, transport, tourism, and settlement.
Mont Blanc is often confused with the Matterhorn because both are famous Alpine peaks. The Matterhorn is an iconic pyramidal mountain on the Switzerland–Italy border, but it is lower than Mont Blanc. The first recorded ascent of Mont Blanc took place in 1786 by Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard.