Mont Blanc de Courmayeur (; it, Monte Bianco di Courmayeur) is a point () on the south-east ridge of
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc (french: Mont Blanc ; it, Monte Bianco , both meaning "white mountain") is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, rising above sea level. It is the second-most prominent mountain in Europe, after Mount Elbrus, and i ...
that forms the peak of the massive south-east face of the mountain. It is connected to the main summit via the ''Col Major'' ().
Despite its minimal
topographic prominence
In topography, prominence (also referred to as autonomous height, relative height, and shoulder drop in US English, and drop or relative height in British English) measures the height of a mountain or hill's summit relative to the lowest contou ...
, it appears as the second-highest peak in the
Alps
The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...
on the official
list of Alpine four-thousanders
This list tabulates all of the 82 official mountain summits of or more in height in the Alps, as defined by the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA). All are located within France, Italy or Switzerland, and are often refer ...
of the
Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme
The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, commonly known by its French name Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA, lit. ''International Union of Alpine Clubs''), was founded in August 1932 in Chamonix, France ...
(UIAA) for its impressive appearance and its importance for mountaineering.
The peak can be reached from the main summit over the ''Bosses'' ridge. The ascents over the south-east /
Peuterey and south /
Brouillard ridges are very challenging.
The summit of Mont Blanc de Courmayeur is marked as lying entirely within Italy on the Italian
Istituto Geografico Militare
The ''Istituto Geografico Militare'' (IGM), or Military Geographic Institute, is an Italian public organization, dependent on the Italian Army general staff (''Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito''). It is the national mapping agency for Italy.
Overvie ...
(IGM) map, while on the French
Institut Géographique National
An institute is an organisational body created for a certain purpose. They are often research organisations (research institutes) created to do research on specific topics, or can also be a professional body.
In some countries, institutes can ...
(IGN) map the summit lies on the border between France and Italy. A demarcation agreement, signed on 7 March 1861, defines the local border between France and Italy. Currently this act and the attached maps (showing the border on the top of Mont Blanc, 4810 m) are legally valid for both the French and Italian governments.
Assemblée Nationale: traité franco-italien signé à Turin le 26 mars 1860
/ref>
Huts
* Refuge Aiguille du Goûter (3,817 m)
* Bivacco Eccles (3,850 m)
* Rifugio Monzino (2,590 m)
See also
*List of Alpine four-thousanders
This list tabulates all of the 82 official mountain summits of or more in height in the Alps, as defined by the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA). All are located within France, Italy or Switzerland, and are often refer ...
References
External links
Mont Blanc de Courmayeur on SummitPost
Alpine four-thousanders
Mountains of the Alps
Mountains of France
Mountains of Italy
Mont Blanc massif
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