Monte Viso
Monte Viso or Monviso (Italian pronunciation: [moɱˈviːzo]; Occitan: Vísol; Piedmontese: Brich Monviso or Viso) is the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps. It is located in Italy close to the French border. Monte Viso is well known for its pyramid-like shape. Because it is higher than all its neighbouring peaks by about 500 m, it can be seen from a great distance, including from the Piedmontese plateau, the Langhe, the Theodulpass in the Zermatt ski area, the col du Galibier and the summits of the Mont Blanc massif. On a very clear day, it can be seen from the spires of Milan Cathedral.
| Monte Viso | |
|---|---|
Monviso seen from the Col de Chamoussiere (FR). | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,841 m (12,602 ft) |
| Prominence | 2,062 m (6,765 ft) Ranked 10th in the Alps |
| Isolation | 60.4 km (37.5 mi) |
| Listing | Ultra Alpine mountains above 3000 m |
| Coordinates | 44°40′03″N 07°05′30″E |
| Geography | |
Monte Viso Alps | |
| Location | Piedmont, Italy |
| Parent range | Cottian Alps |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | August 30, 1861 by William Mathews and Frederic Jacomb with guide Michel Croz |
| Easiest route | South Face scramble |
It has been suggested that Monte Viso could be one of the mountains which inspired the Paramount logo. In Italy it is also known as Il Re di Pietra ("The Stone King") because of its prominence within the western Italian Alps. It was declared a cross-border UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2013. The longest river of Italy, River Po, is born at the mountain's foot.