Cime du Gélas
Mountain in Italy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cime du Gélas (Italian: Monte Gelàs) is a 3,143 m high mountain on the boundary between France (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region) and Italy (province of Cuneo). It is part of the Maritime Alps.
| Cime du Gélas | |
|---|---|
| Monte Gelàs | |
| |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,143 m (10,312 ft) |
| Prominence | 669 m (2,195 ft)[1] |
| Isolation | 8.51 km (5.29 mi) |
| Listing | Alpine mountains above 3000 m |
| Coordinates | 44°07′30″N 7°23′20″E |
| Geography | |
  Cime du Gélas Location within Alps | |
| Location | Piedmont, Italy Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France |
| Parent range | Maritime Alps |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1864 by Paolo di Saint-Robert |
It is the highest peak of the Mercantour National Park, while on the Italian side it is included in the Maritime Alps Natural Park. Geologically, it is part of the Mercantour-Argentera massif, and is mostly formed by granitoid gneiss. The peak is composed of two smaller ones, divided by a gorge; the highest peak is the northern one, which is topped by a cross built here by priests from Cuneo.
The mountain's name derives from the glaciers which occupy its northern slopes, which have however reduced substantially during the late 20th century.
