Why are the Alps geographically important?

Starting with human geography. The Alps serve as one of the natural barriers between the Mediterranean, Romance cultures of southern Europe and the Germanic cultures of Northern Europe. read more

Now going to physical geography. Snow pack in the Alps feed many of the rivers of Western Europe, including the Rhine, Danube, and Rhone. The Alps separate the cool, moist air of North Europe's Marine West Coast climate with the warm and dry Mediterranean weather of the Italian Peninsula also. read more

The Alps have always been an important part of Europe. They are geographically important, representing 11% of Europe’s surface and heavily influencing its climate. They are important from a historical point of view, as they were a barrier for people movements and trade. read more