2023-10-16
Top1
Aiguille du Midi
Reason for recommendation: highest cable car station in Europe
Aiguille du Midi is top of Mont Blanc in French Alps, 3842 meters above sea level, one of famous symbols of Chamonix. Aiguille du Midi is highest cable car station in Europe, and if tourists come here but don't use cable car, it will be like entering a mountain of treasures and returning empty-handed. The cable car to summit was built in 1955, and at that time it was highest cable car in world, and it held record for about 20 years. It is still cable car with largest vertical extent in world, from 1035 meters to 3842 meters.
From Chamonix, starting point of cable car, to top of Aiguille du Midi, over 2800 meters high, is only 20 minutes. Since ropeway is only supported by one steel cable, centrifugal force is strong, when you are inside ropeway, you feel like you are on a swing. When tourists first go on a trip, they will always exclaim in surprise and exclaim, as if flying through clouds. At top of peak there is a panoramic observation deck. In endless clouds, observation deck is located in layers of smoke and waves. Gift shop. The name of peak literally translates as "needle at noon", referring to view of Aiguille du Midi from Chamonix at noon, when sun just reaches summit.
Top2
Mont Blanc
Reason for recommendation: highest peak of the Alps
Mont Blanc means White Mountain, also translated as Mont Blanc, highest peak of Alps, located at junction of Haute-Savoie in France and Valle d'Aosta in Italy. The highest point of mountain is between 4807 m and 4810 m. The latest official measurements in December 2005 were 4808.75 m. Mont Blanc is highest peak in Western Europe, first conquered by people on August 8, 1786.
The small town of Chamonix is a small town located on long and narrow plain of Mont Blanc valley, with starting point of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in front of it. Mont Blanc has a high mountain relief and is subject to westerly winds, heavy rainfall, snow in winter and non-melting snow in summer all year round. The top of Mont Blanc is covered with snow and glaciers cover about 200 square kilometers, mountain has cable cars and facilities for winter sports, which is a resort for climbers. With majestic peaks and beautiful landscapes, Mont Blanc is largest tourist center in Alps. Climb Mont Blanc and look around, you will see a panorama of magnificent Alps of France, Switzerland, Italy and towering peaks that are very beautiful.
Top3
Pyrenees - Mount Purdue
Reason for recommendation: largest mountain in southwestern Europe
The majestic mountains of Pyrenees-Perdu are largest mountain range in southwestern Europe, located on border between France and Spain. Its area is 30,639 hectares. Spain has two of largest and deepest canyons in Europe, and in France, on steeper northern slopes, there are three large circular barriers that fully represent local geological landscape.
In addition to majestic mountains, region has an idyllic landscape that reflects agricultural lifestyle once common in European highlands but now found only in Pyrenees. Here, through unique landscapes of villages, farms, fields, high mountain pastures and rugged mountain roads, you can look back at ancient European society. The natural scenery of mountain is magnificent and it is an important tourist resort and a place for mountain climbing and skiing.
There is an endless stream of people who come here to visit and travel, among which Torla in Spain and Gavarnie in France are two of the most attractive and beautiful scenic spots. The ancient Roman amphitheater at Gavarnie is a particularly idyllic sight, with its rocky walls and spectacular waterfalls adored by climbers.
Top4
Mountains, circuses and rocks of Reunion Island
Recommendation reason: Reunion Island's most unique landform
The peaks, cirques and cliffs of Reunion Island adjoin central part of Reunion National Park, covering an area of more than 100,000 hectares, which is equivalent to 40% of area of Reunion Island. . Reunion Island consists of two volcanic mountains located in southwestern Indian Ocean.
In peaks, cirques and rocks of Reunion Island, two towering volcanic peaks rise above island, huge rocks and three cirques on slopes of rocks, and below rocks meet wooded canyons and pools. Together they form a magnificent picture. Here is natural habitat of plants, and not only a wide variety of plants, but also mainly local unique varieties. Humid subtropical forest, cloud forest and swamp are intertwined like a mosaic of ecosystems and varied landscapes.
Top 5
Mont Saint-Michel and its bay
Reason for recommendation: Bay with fastest tide in France
Between Normandy and Brittany there is a vast sandy beach, in middle of which there is a small rocky island, a monastery in honor of St. Michael Archangel, and around monastery there is a village. Built between 11th and 16th centuries, monastery is an outstanding technical and artistic masterpiece, perfectly adapted to its unique natural setting.
Mont Saint-Michel looks like a fairy tale world from coast of Brittany: surrounded by blue ocean and white sand, a huge angel lies on spire of church belfry, and golden statue of Saint-Michel looks like a bright spot of light. Compete with sun. For centuries, Mont Saint-Michel has stood proudly facing sea and wind, ebbs and flows, surviving vicissitudes of fate. The Bay of Saint-Malo, where it is located, is known for its fast tides, and tide-watching has become a staple of Mont Saint-Michel's landscape.
Each evening, tide of Atlantic Ocean bursts in with lightning speed, in an instant plunging quicksand around it, and suddenly a boundless ocean appears, only a long embankment connects to land. There are two spring tides every spring and autumn, one around March 21st and other around September 23rd, at which time Mont Saint-Michel is crowded and very busy.