Ortler Alps

The Ortler Alps (Italian: Ortles-Cevedale [ˌɔrtlestʃeveˈdaːle]; German: Ortler-Alpen) are a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps mountain group in the Central Eastern Alps, in Italy and Switzerland.

Ortler Alps
Italian: Gruppo dell'Ortles-Cevedale German: Ortler-Alpen
Ortler Alps
Highest point
Peak	Ortler
Elevation	3,905 m (12,812 ft)
Listing
Coordinates	46°30′32″N 10°32′42″E
Geography
Countries	Italy and Switzerland
Range coordinates	46°27′N 10°37′E
Parent range	Southern Limestone Alps
Borders on	Livigno Range and Adamello-Presanella

Geography

The Ortler Alps are separated from:

1. the Livigno Range in the north-west by the Stelvio Pass and the Adda River valley (Valtellina)
2. the Adamello-Presanella range in the south by the Tonale Pass
3. the Ötztal Alps in the north-east by the upper Adige valley (Vinschgau).

The part west of the Gavia Pass is also called Sobretta-Gavia Group.

The Ortler Alps are drained by the rivers Adda, Oglio, Adige and its tributary Noce.

A panoramic view from Monte Vioz

Highest trench in history near the Ortler's peak, 1917

Peaks

The main peaks of the Ortler Alps are:

Peak (Italian)	(German)	metres	feet
Ortles	Ortler	3,905	12,811
Gran Zebrù	Königspitze	3,857	12,655
Monte Cevedale	Zufallspitze	3,774	12,382
Monte Zebrù		3,735	12,254
Palón della Mare		3,705	12,156
Punta San Matteo		3,692	12,113
Monte Vioz		3,645	11,959
Punta Thurwieser	Thurwieserspitze	3,641	11,946
Pizzo Tresero		3,602	11,818
Cima Vertana	Vertainspitze	3,541	11,618
Punta dello Scudo	Schildspitze	3,461	11,355
Punta delle Bàite	Tuckettspitze	3,458	11,346
Cima Sternai	Hintere Eggenspitze	3,443	11,296
Gioveretto	Zufrittspitze	3,439	11,283
Cima Venezia	Veneziaspitze	3,384	11,103
Croda di Cengles	Tschenglser Hochwand	3,378	11,083
Monte Confinale		3,370	11,057
Corno dei Tre Signori		3,360	11,024
Punta Beltovo di Dentro	Hintere Schöntaufspitze	3,325	10,909
Monte Sobretta		3,296	10,814
Orecchia di Lepre	Hasenöhrl	3,257	10,686
Monte Gavia		3,223	10,574
Piz Umbrail (Romansh)		3,033	9,951
Piz Dora		2,951	9,951
Piz Lad (Romansh)		2,882	9,455
Monte Padrio		2,153	7,064

Ortler Alps viewed from 10,000 metres

Mountain passes

The main mountain passes of the Ortler Alps are:

Mountain pass	location	type	elevation
			m	ft
Hochjoch	Sulden to the Zebrù valley	snow	3536	11,602
Vioz Pass	Santa Caterina Valfurva to Peio	snow	3337	10,949
Königsjoch	Sulden to Santa Caterina	snow	3295	10,811
Cevedale Pass	Santa Caterina to Martell	snow	3271	10,732
Eissee Pass	Sulden to Martell	snow	3133	10,279
Passo del Zebru	Santa Caterina to the Zebrù valley	snow	3025	9925
Sallentjoch	Martell to Bagni di Rabbi	snow	3021	9913
Sforzellina Pass	Santa Caterina to Peio	snow	3005	9859
Tabarettascharte	Sulden to Trafoi	footpath	2883	9459
Stelvio Pass/Stilfserjoch	Trafoi to Bormio	road	2760	9055
Gavia Pass	Santa Caterina to Ponte di Legno	road	2637	8651
Vigiljoch	Lana	snow	1743	5718

History

The Ortler Alps were part of the Italian front during World War I. In this area, the Austro-Hungarians and the Italians dug in during a trench war fought at altitudes above 3,000 m (10,000 ft) for most of the war. Some trenches are still visible today, and war relics continue to be found in the area.

External links

• Media related to Ortler Alps at Wikimedia Commons