- Matterhorn
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/mat"euhr hawrn'/, n.a mountain on the border of Switzerland and Italy, in the Pennine Alps. 14,780 ft. (4505 m). French, Mont Cervin.
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French Mont Cervin Italian Monte CervinoMountain in the Alps, on the border between Italy and Switzerland.Rising to 14,692 ft (4,478 m), it appears from the Swiss side to be an isolated peak, but it is actually the end of a ridge. The Italian slope is more difficult to climb than the Swiss slope. It was first scaled on July 14, 1865, by British explorer Edward Whymper, who ascended the Swiss side. Three days later Giovanni A. Carrel led an Italian group in the first ascent from the Italian side.The Matterhorn reflected in one of the Riffel lakes, SwitzerlandEwing Galloway* * *
French Mont Cervin , Italian Monte Cervinoone of the best-known mountains (14,692 feet [4,478 metres]) in the Alps, straddling the frontier between Switzerland and Italy, 6 miles (10 km) southwest of the village of Zermatt, Switzerland. Though from the Swiss side it appears to be an isolated horn-shaped peak, it is actually the butt end of a ridge; the Swiss slope is not nearly as steep or as difficult to climb as the grand terraced walls of the Italian slope.After a number of attempts, chiefly on the Italian side, the Matterhorn was first conquered from the Swiss arête on July 14, 1865, by the British explorer Edward Whymper (Whymper, Edward), but four of his party fell to their deaths on the descent. Three days later it was scaled from the Italian side by a party of men from the village of Valtournanche, Italy, led by the Italian guide Giovanni Antonio Carrel. It is frequently ascended in summer, especially from Zermatt, the town for which the peak was named.* * *
Universalium. 2010.