Number of Alpine Four-thousanders
Since no exact and formal definition of mountain exists, the number of 4000-metre summits is arbitrary. One can consider a stone, for instance, as a summit if it is situated above this altitude. The topographic prominence is an important factor to decide the official nomination of a summit. The list proposed by the UIAA is based not only on prominence but also on other criteria such as the morphology (general appearance) and mountaineering interest. Summits such as Roccia Nera or Mont Blanc de Courmayeur have much less than the 30 metres minimum prominence criterion but are included in the list because of the other criteria. In comparison, the official 8000 metres summit having the smallest prominence is Lhotse with 610 metres. A minimum prominence criterion of 500 metres would reduce the number of Alpine four-thousanders to only 22.
The table below gives the number of four-thousanders as a function of their minimum prominence.
| Minimum prominence | UIAA list | Enlarged list | Karl Blodig list | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country / Range | 2,000 metres (6,562 ft) | 1,500 metres (4,921 ft) (Ultras) | 1,000 metres (3,281 ft) | 500 metres (1,640 ft) | 300 metres (984 ft) | 200 metres (656 ft) | 100 metres (328 ft) | 30 metres (98 ft) | - | - | - |
| Switzerland | 3 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 24 | 28 | 37 | 46 | 48 | 71 | 41 |
| Italy | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 20 | 31 | 38 | 60 | 25 |
| France | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 20 | 25 | 41 | 13 |
| Pennine | 1 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 26 | 38 | 41 | 65 | 34 |
| Mont Blanc | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 23 | 28 | 46 | 15 |
| Bernese | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Dauphiné | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Bernina | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Graian | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 5 | 7 | 12 | 22 | 29 | 35 | 51 | 73 | 82 | 128 | 61 |
Read more about this topic: List Of Alpine Four-thousanders
Famous quotes containing the words number of, number and/or alpine:
“He is the greatest artist who has embodied, in the sum of his works, the greatest number of the greatest ideas.”
—John Ruskin (1819–1900)
“It seems to me that there must be an ecological limit to the number of paper pushers the earth can sustain, and that human civilization will collapse when the number of, say, tax lawyers exceeds the world’s total population of farmers, weavers, fisherpersons, and pediatric nurses.”
—Barbara Ehrenreich (b. 1941)
“I held a bayonet
that was for the earth of your stomach.
The belly button singing its puzzle.
The intestines winding like the alpine roads.
It was made to enter you
as you have entered me....”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)