It is said to be the most photographed summit in the world: the Matterhorn. The triangular summit rises 4,478 metres above sea level. It is Switzerland’s emblem, the seventh highest mountain in the Alps and the model for the chocolate, Toblerone. On 14 July 1865, the Horn was climbed for the first time via the Hörnligrat. Four of the seven young mountaineers died in the process. The rope that broke during the descent is now on display in the Matterhorn Museum in the village of Zermatt at the foot of the mountain. It is estimated that around 3,000 people attempt to climb the Matterhorn every year, but many quickly give up due to a lack of fitness. The Matterhorn was formed when the African continental plate pushed up over the European plate 90 million years ago, causing rock masses to push upwards.
Matterhorn website: https://www.zermatt.ch/matterhorn
Photo: The striking summit of the Matterhorn under a starry sky. Credits: Unsplash/Huper by Joshua Earle.
