Editing Lepontine Alps

{{Short description|Mountain range in southern Switzerland and northern Italy}}
{{Infobox mountain
 | name              = Lepontine Alps
 | native_name       = {{plainlist|
* {{langx|de|Lepontinische Alpen}}
* {{langx|it|Alpi Lepontine}}
}}
 | topo_map          = Swiss Federal Office of Topography [[swisstopo]]
 | photo             = MonteLeone0001.jpg
 | photo_caption     = Monte Leone
 | country           = {{hlist|[[Switzerland]]|[[Italy]]}}
 | subdivision1_type = [[Cantons of Switzerland|Cantons]], [[regions of Italy|Regions]]
 | subdivision1      = {{hlist|[[Valais]]|[[Ticino]]|[[Graubünden]]|[[Canton of Uri|Uri]]|[[Piedmont]]|[[Lombardy]]}}
 | parent            = Western Alps
 | borders_on        = {{hlist|[[Pennine Alps]]|[[Bernese Alps in the wide sense|Bernese Alps]]|[[Uri Alps]]|[[Glarus Alps]]|[[Western Rhaetian Alps]]|[[Lugano Prealps]]}}
 | geology           = 
 | orogeny           = [[Alpine orogeny]]
 | length_mi         = 
 | length_orientation= 
 | width_mi          = 
 | width_orientation = 
 | highest           = Monte Leone
 | elevation_m       = 3553
 | elevation_ref     = <ref name=pb>{{cite peakbagger|pid=10069|name=Monte Leone|access-date=2024-07-23}}</ref>
 | coordinates       = {{coord|46|14|59|N|8|06|37|E|type:mountain_region:CH_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline}}
 | coordinates_ref   = <ref name=pb/>
 | listing           = [[List of prominent mountains of the Alps above 3000 m|Prominent mountains of the Alps]]
 | range_coordinates = {{coord|46|25|N|8|40|E|type:mountain_region:CH_scale:300000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 | map_image         = Alps locator map (Alpi Lepontini).png
 | map_caption       = Lepontine Alps (red)
|fetchwikidata=ALL
}}

The '''Lepontine Alps''' ({{langx|de|Lepontinische Alpen}}, {{langx|fr|Alpes lépontines}}, {{langx|it|Alpi Lepontine}}) are a [[mountain range]] in the north-western part of the [[Alps]]. They are located in [[Switzerland]] ([[Valais]], [[Ticino]], [[Canton of Uri|Uri]] and [[Graubünden]]) and [[Italy]] ([[Piedmont]] and [[Lombardy]]).

The [[Simplon Tunnel|Simplon rail tunnel]] (from [[Brig, Switzerland|Brig]] to [[Domodossola]]), the [[Gotthard Base Tunnel|Gotthard rail]] (from [[Erstfeld]] to [[Bodio]]) and [[Gotthard Road Tunnel|Gotthard road]] tunnels (from [[Andermatt]] to [[Airolo]]) and the [[San Bernardino (road tunnel)|San Bernardino road tunnel]] are important transport arteries.

The eastern portion of the Lepontine Alps, from the [[St Gotthard Pass]] to the [[Splügen Pass]], is named the [[Adula Alps]], while the western part is historically referred to as the [[Ticino Alps]].

== Etymology ==
The designation ''Lepontine Alps'', derived from the Latin name of the [[Valle Leventina]], has long been somewhat vaguely applied to the Alpine ranges that enclose it, before being used for the whole range.<ref name = Ball/>

==Geography==
Following the line marking the division of the waters that flow into the [[Po (river)|Po]] from those that feed the [[Rhone]] or the [[Rhine]], the main [[ridge]] of the Lepontine Alps describes a somewhat irregular curve, convex to the north, from the [[Simplon Pass]] to the [[Splügen Pass]]. With the single exception of the [[Monte Leone]], overlooking the Simplon Pass, the summits of this portion of the chain are much inferior in height to those of the neighbouring chains; but two peaks of the Adula group, culminating at the [[Rheinwaldhorn]], exceed {{convert|11000|ft|m}} in height.<ref name = Ball/>

The extensive region lying south of the main ridge is occupied by mountain ranges whose summits sometimes rival in height those of the dividing ridge, and which are cut through by deep valleys, three of which converge in the basins of [[Lake Maggiore]] and [[Lake Como]], the deepest of all the lakes on the south side of the Alps. The most important of these valleys is the [[Valle Leventina]], or the upper valley of the [[Ticino (river)|Ticino]]. This has been known from a remote antiquity because it leads to the [[St Gotthard Pass]], one of the easiest lines of communication between northern and southern Europe.

The Lepontine Alps are drained by the rivers [[Rhône (river)|Rhône]] in the west, [[Reuss (river)|Reuss]] in the north, [[Rhine]] (Anterior and Posterior Rhine) in the east and [[Ticino (river)|Ticino]] and [[Toce]] in the south.

==List of peaks==
{{See also|List of mountains in Switzerland}}
[[File:Zervreila.jpg|thumb|[[Zervreilasee]]]]
[[File:Blinnenhorn.jpg|thumb|[[Blinnenhorn]]]]
[[File:Ritom01.jpg|thumb|[[Lago Ritom]]]]
[[File:San Gottardo.jpg|thumb|St Gotthard Pass]]
[[File:Passo di Rotondo.jpg|thumb|Gerenpass]]
[[File:Pizzo di Claro.jpg|thumb|[[Pizzo di Claro]]]]
[[File:Greina.jpg|thumb|Greina Pass]]
[[File:Basodino.jpg|thumb|Basodino]]
[[File:PizMedel01.jpg|thumb|Piz Medel]]
The chief peaks of the Lepontine Alps are:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Name
! colspan=2 | Elevation
|-
! style="text-align:Right;" |m
! ft
|-
| [[Monte Leone]]
| 3,553
| 11,684
|-
| [[Rheinwaldhorn]]
| 3,402
| 11,149
|-
| [[Güferhorn]]
| 3,393
| 11,132
|-
| [[Blinnenhorn]]
| 3,384
| 11,103
|-
| [[Basodino]]
| 3,276
| 10,749
|-
| [[Pizzo Tambò]]
| 3,276
| 10,749
|-
| [[Helsenhorn]]
| 3,274
| 10,742
|-
| [[Wasenhorn]]
| 3,255
| 10,680
|-
| [[Ofenhorn]]
| 3,242
| 10,637
|-
| [[Scherbadung]] (Monte Cervandone)
| 3,213
| 10,542
|-
| [[Piz Medel]]
| 3,203
| 10,509
|-
| [[Scopi]]
| 3,200
| 10,499
|-
| [[Pizzo Rotondo]]
| 3,197
| 10,489
|-
| [[Hohsandhorn]]
| 3,182
| 10,440
|-
| [[Piz Terri]]
| 3,151
| 10,331
|-
| [[Pizzo di Cassimoi]]
| 3,129
| 10,266
|-
| [[Kastelhorn]]
| 3,128
| 10,262
|-
| [[Piz Aul]]
| 3,124
| 10,250
|-
| [[Pizzo Pesciora]]
| 3,120
| 10,247
|-
| [[Witenwasserenstock]]
| 3,084
| 10,119
|-
| [[Campo Tencia]]
| 3,075
| 10,089
|-
| [[Leckihorn]]
| 3,069
| 10,069
|-
| [[Bruschghorn]]
| 3,054
| 10,020
|-
| [[Lorenzhorn]]
| 3,048
| 10,000
|-
| [[Alperschällihorn]]
| 3,045
| 9,991
|-
| [[Chilchalphorn]]
| 3,040
| 9,974
|-
|[[Saashörner]]
|3,039
|9,970
|-
|[[Pizzo di Boccareccio]]
|3,027
|9,931
|-
| [[Piz Corbet]]
| 3,025
| 9,925
|-
| [[Piz Blas]]
| 3,023
| 9,918
|-
| [[Monte Giove]]
| 3,010
| 9,876
|-
|[[Cime di Val Loga]]
|3,004
|9,856
|-
| [[Pizzo Centrale]]
| 3,003
| 9,853
|-
| [[Pizzas d'Anarosa]]
| 3,002
| 9,850
|-
| [[Piz Beverin]]
| 2,998
| 9,843
|-
| Weisshorn (Splugen)
| 2,992
| 9,817
|-
| [[Teurihorn]]
| 2,973
| 9,754
|-
| [[Piz de Mucia]]
| 2,967
| 9,734
|-
| [[Piz Pombi]]
| 2,967
| 9,734
|-
| [[Pizzo Lucendro]]
| 2,959
| 9,708
|-
|[[Piz Denter]]
|2,956
|9,698
|-
| [[Piz Tomul]]
| 2,949
| 9,676
|-
| [[Piz Cavel]]
| 2,944
| 9,659
|-
| [[Piz Caschleglia]]
| 2,936
| 9,633
|-
| [[Barenhorn]]
| 2,932
| 9,620
|-
| Six Madun (Badus)
| 2,932
| 9,619
|-
|[[Poncione di Manió]]
|2,925
|9,596
|-
| [[Pizzo Fiorèra]]
| 2,921
| 9,583
|-
| [[Pizzo Forno]]
| 2,907
| 9,537
|-
| [[Piz Muraun]]
| 2,899
| 9,512
|-
| [[Zervreilahorn]]
| 2,898
| 9,508
|-
| [[Valserhorn]]
| 2,886
| 9,469
|-
| [[Piz Serenastga]]
| 2,874
| 9,429
|-
| [[Cima della Bianca]]
| 2,893
| 9,491
|-
| [[Punta della Rossa]]
| 2,888
| 9,475
|-
| [[Poncione di Valleggia]]
| 2,873
| 9,426
|-
| [[Punta Valgrande]]
| 2,857
| 9,373
|-
| [[Monte Cistella]]
| 2,851
| 9,353
|-
| [[Piz Canal]]
| 2,846
| 9,337
|-
| [[I Rodond]]
| 2,830
| 9,280
|-
| [[Piz Maler]]
| 2,790
| 9,150
|-
| [[Fil de Dragiva]]
| 2,786
| 9,140
|-
| Piz Lukmanier
| 2,778
| 9,115
|-
| [[Piz Riein]]
| 2,762
| 9,062
|-
|[[Fibbia]]
|2,738
|8,983
|-
| [[Monte Prosa]]
| 2,738
| 8,983
|-
|[[Pizzo di Campedell]]
|2,724
|8,937
|-
|[[Piz Uccello]]
|2,724 || 8,937
|-
| [[Pizzo del Torto]]
| 2,723
| 8,934
|-
| [[Pizzo di Röd]]
| 2,699
| 8,855
|-
| [[Pizzo Solögna]]
| 2,698
| 8,852
|-
|[[Rasiva]]
|2,684
|8,806
|-
| [[Cima di Piancabella]]
| 2,671
| 8,763
|-
| [[Pizzo d'Orsalia]]
| 2,664
| 8,740
|-
| [[Pizzo Malora]]
| 2,640
| 8,660
|-
|[[Cima de Nomnom]]
|2,633
|8,638
|-
| [[Poncione dei Laghetti]]
| 2,616
| 8,583
|-
|[[Piz d'Arbeola]]
|2,600
|8,500
|-
|[[Breithorn (Grengiols)|Breithorn]]
| 2,599
| 8,527
|-
| [[Pizzo Paglia]]
| 2,594
| 8,510
|-
| [[Piz Pazzola]]
| 2,581
| 8,468
|-
| [[Piz Radun]]
| 2,581
| 8,468
|-
| [[Piz de Cressim]]
| 2,575
| 8,448
|-
| [[Pizzo di Madéi]]
| 2,551
| 8,369
|-
| [[Piz Titschal]]
| 2,550
| 8,370
|-
| Pizzo Columbe
| 2,549
| 8,363
|-
| [[Pizzo Cavregasco]]
| 2,535
| 8,317
|-
| [[Poncione Pro do Rodùc]]
| 2,522
| 8,274
|-
| [[Pizzo di Cadrèigh]]
| 2,516
| 8,225
|-
| [[Piz de Setag]]
| 2,476
| 8,123
|-
| [[Pizzo d'Orsalietta]]
| 2,476
| 8,123
|-
| [[Piz Vizan]]
| 2,471
| 8,107
|-
| [[Pizzo di Porcaresc]]
| 2,467
| 8,094
|-
| [[Pizzo Campanile]]
| 2,458
| 8,064
|-
|[[Poncione della Marcia]] 
|2,454
|8,051
|-
|[[Punta d'Orogna]] 
|2,447
|8,028
|-
| [[Madone di Càmedo]]
| 2,446
| 8,025
|-
| [[Poncione di Piotta]]
| 2,439
| 8,002
|-
| [[Pizzo di Brünesc]] 
| 2,429 
| 7,969
|-
| [[Cima dell'Uomo]]
| 2,390
| 7,840
|-
| [[Cima dello Stagn]]
| 2,382
| 7,815
|- 
| [[Pizzo Bombögn]] 
| 2,331 
| 7,648
|-
|[[Poncione d'Alnasca]]
|2,301
|7,549
|-
| [[Schlüechtli]]
| 2,283
| 7,490
|-
| [[Pala da Tgiern]]
| 2,279
| 7,477
|-
| [[Madom da Sgióf]]
| 2,265
| 7,431
|-
| [[Pizzo Alzasca]]
| 2,262
| 7,421
|-
| [[Pizzo Muncréch]]
| 2,252
| 7,388
|-
|[[Corno di Gesero]]
|2,227
|7,306
|-
| [[Camoghè]]
| 2,226
| 7,303
|-
| [[Monte Zeda]]
| 2,156
| 7,073
|-
|[[Glaser Grat]]
|2,124
|6,969
|-
| [[Piz Mundaun]]
| 2,065
| 6,775
|-
| [[Pizzo Peloso]]
| 2,064
| 6,772
|-
| [[Madone (Locarno)]]
| 2,051
| 6,729
|-
| [[Crest dil Cut]]
| 2,016
| 6,614
|-
| [[Monte Berlinghera]]
| 1,930
| 6,330
|}

==Glaciers==

Main [[glacier]]s :

*[[Gries Glacier]]
*[[Paradies Glacier]]
*[[Basòdino Glacier]]

==List of passes==

The chief [[mountain pass|passes]] of the Lepontine Alps are:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Mountain pass
! rowspan=2 | location
! rowspan=2 | type
! colspan=2 | elevation
|-
! m
! ft
|-
| [[Zapport Pass]]
| [[Hinterrhein, Switzerland|Hinterrhein]] to [[Malvaglia]] and [[Biasca]]
| snow
| 3,079
| 10,103
|-
| [[Guferlücke]]
| Canaltal to Lentatal (near [[Vals, Switzerland]])
| snow
| 2,980
| 9,777
|-
| [[Lentalücke]]
| Hinterrhein to Vals
| snow
| 2,954
| 9,692
|-
| [[Hohsand Pass]]
| [[Binn]] to [[La Frua]] ([[Toce]] waterfalls)
| snow
| 2,927
| 9,603
|-
| [[Lecki Pass]]
| [[Realp]] to [[Oberwald VS]]
| snow
| 2,912
| 9,554
|-
| [[Passo Rotondo]]
| [[Airolo]] to Oberwald
| snow
| 2,880
| 9,449
|-
| [[Kaltwasser Pass]]
| [[Simplon, Valais|Simplon]] Hospice to [[Alpe Veglia]]
| snow
| 2,844
| 9,331
|-
| [[Scaradra Pass]]
| Vals to [[Olivone]]
| footpath
| 2,770
| 9,088
|-
| [[Satteltelücke]]
| Vals to [[Vrin]]
| footpath
| 2,768
| 9,082
|-
| [[Ritter Pass]]
| [[Binn]] to Alpe Veglia
| snow
| 2,692
| 8,832
|-
| [[Cavanna Pass]]
| [[Realp]] to [[Bedretto]]
| snow
| 2,611
| 8,566
|-
| [[Scatta Minoja]]
| [[Devero]] to [[Formazza]]
| bridle path
| 2,597
| 8,521
|-
| [[Bocca di Cadlimo]]
| Airolo to the [[Lukmanier Pass]]
| footpath
| 2,542
| 8,340
|-
| [[Valserberg]]
| Hinterrhein to Vals
| bridle path
| 2,507
| 8,225
|-
| [[Safierberg]]
| [[Splügen, Switzerland|Splügen]] to [[Safien]]
| bridle path
| 2,490
| 8,170
|-
| [[Nufenen Pass]]
| Ulrichen to Airolo
| road
| 2,478
| 8,130
|-
| [[Geisspfad Pass]]
| Binn to Devero
| footpath
| 2,475
| 8,120
|-
| [[Gries Pass]]
| [[Ulrichen]] to La Frua
| bridle path
| 2,468
| 8,098
|-
| [[Passo di Naret]]
| [[Fusio]] to Airolo
| bridle path
| 2,443
| 8,015
|-
| [[Passo Valtendra]]
| Alpe Veglia to Devero and [[Baceno]]
| bridle path
| 2,431
| 7,976
|-
| [[Diesrut Pass]]
| Vrin to [[Somvix]]
| bridle path
| 2,424
| 7,953
|-
| [[Albrun Pass]]
| Binn to Devero and Baceno
| bridle path
| 2,410
| 7,907
|-
| [[Greina Pass]]
| Olivone to Somvix
| bridle path
| 2,360
| 7,743
|-
| [[San Giacomo Pass]]
| Airolo to La Frua
| bridle path
| 2,308
| 7,573
|-
| [[Passo di Buffalora]]
| [[Mesocco]] to the [[Val Calanca]]
| footpath
| 2,265
| 7,431
|-
| [[Passo dell'Uomo]]
| [[Quinto, Switzerland]] to the [[Lukmanier Pass]]
| bridle path
| 2,212
| 7,258
|-
| [[Splügen Pass]]
| [[Thusis]] to [[Chiavenna]]
| road
| 2,117
| 6,946
|-
| [[St Gotthard Pass]]
| [[Andermatt]] to Airolo
| road
| 2,114
| 6,936
|-
| [[San Bernardino Pass]]
| Thusis to [[Bellinzona]]
| road
| 2,063
| 6,769
|-
| [[Lukmanier Pass]]
| [[Disentis]] to Olivone
| road
| 1,917
| 6,289
|}

==See also==
*[[Swiss Alps]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name = Ball>
  {{cite book | author = Ball, John | author-link = John Ball (naturalist) | title = The Alpine guide, Central Alps
   | page = 245 | year = 1866 | publisher = | place = London}}</ref>
}}
*{{EB1911|wstitle=Alps}}
{{Western Alps}}{{SOIUSA sections of the Alps}}{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lepontine Alps| ]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of the Alps]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Lombardy]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Piedmont]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Graubünden]]
[[Category:Landforms of Valais]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Italy]]
[[Category:Landforms of Ticino]]
[[Category:Graubünden–Ticino border]]
[[Category:Ticino–Valais border]]
[[Category:Ticino–Uri border]]
[[Category:Landforms of the canton of Uri]]
[[Category:Swiss Alps]]
[[Category:Western Alps]]