Punta Merciantaira
Mountain in Italy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Punta Merciantaira (in Italian[3] ) or Grand Glaiza (in French[1]) is a 3,293 metres high mountain of the Cottian Alps.[4]
| Punta Merciantaira | |
|---|---|
| Grand Glaiza | |
The French side of the mountain | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,293 m (10,804 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 479 m (1,572 ft)[2] |
| Isolation | 4.23 km (2.63 mi) |
| Listing | Alpine mountains above 3000 m |
| Coordinates | 44°50′57″N 6°52′57″E |
| Geography | |
  Punta Merciantaira Location in the Alps | |
| Location | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France Piemonte, Italy |
| Parent range | Cottian Alps |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Geography
The peak is located on the French-Italian border between the Metropolitan City of Turin (Piedmont) and the French department of Hautes-Alpes (Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur). It belongs to the Main chain of the Alps. Administratively the mountain is part of the Italian comune of Cesana Torinese (north face) and the French commune of Cervières.
SOIUSA classification
According to SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the mountain can be classified in the following way:[5]
- main part = Western Alps
- major sector = South Western Alps
- section = Cottian Alps
- subsection = Central Cottian Alps
- supergroup = Catena Bric Froid-Rochebrune-Beal Traversier
- group = Gruppo Ramière-Merciantaira
- subgroup = Sottogruppo del Merciantaira
- code = I/A-4.II-B.4.b
Access to the summit
The summit of the Grand Glaiza can be easily accessed starting from Les Fonts (commune of Cervières) in less than 4 hours' walk following a waymarked footpath.[6] The easiest route from the Italian side, starting from Grange di Thuras (Cesana Torinese), is longer and requires a good hiking experience.[7]
