The Alps are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that
lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately 750 mi (1,210 km)
across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): France,
Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and
Slovenia. The Alpine arch generally extends from Nice on the western
Mediterranean to Trieste on the Adriatic and Vienna at the beginning
of the Pannonian Basin. The mountains were formed over tens of
millions of years as the African and Eurasian tectonic plates
collided. Extreme shortening caused by the event resulted in marine
sedimentary rocks rising by thrusting and folding into high mountain
peaks such as Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn.
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