In 1800, Napoleon crossed one of the mountain passes with an army of 40,000. 

Hannibal notably crossed the Alps with a herd of elephants, and the Romans had settlements in the region.

By the 6th century BC, the Celtic La Tène culture was well established. 

 A mummified man, determined to be 5,000 years old, was discovered on a glacier at the Austrian–Italian border in 1991.

Evidence of human habitation in the Alps goes back to the Palaeolithic era.

Wildlife such as ibex live in the higher peaks to elevations of 3,400 m (11,155 ft), and plants such as edelweiss grow in rocky areas in lower elevations as well as in higher elevations.

in the mountains, precipitation levels vary greatly and climatic conditions consist of distinct zones. 

The altitude and size of the range affect the climate in Europe; 

The Alpine region area contains 128 peaks higher than 4,000 m (13,000 ft).

Mont Blanc spans the French–Italian border, and at 4,809 m (15,778 ft) is the highest mountain in the Alps.