A sharp Milky Way on a starry night at Lac des Cheserys with Mont Blanc, Europe's highest peak, to the right, Haute Savoie, French Alps, France, Europe

Gran Paradiso, 4061m, highest peak entirely in Italy, Gran Paradiso National Park, Aosta Valley, Italian Alps, Italy, Europe

The Mont Blanc Tunnel runs through the highest mountain in the Alps, connecting Courmayeur, Italy, and Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France, Europe

Climber on Monte Rosa Duforspitze, 4634m, highest peak in Switzerland, Zermatt, Valais, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Europe

Gran Paradiso, 4061m, highest peak entirely in Italy, Gran Paradiso National Park, Aosta Valley, Italian Alps, Italy, Europe

Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe at 4810 m, Haute Savoie, French Alps, France, Europe

Val Claret, highest village in Tignes, Savoie, Rhone-Alpes, French Alps, France, Europe

A trekker heads up into the wilderness of the highest part of the Ecrins Massif in deep winter snow, above the village of Pelvoux, near Briancon, western Alps, Hautes Alpes, south west France, Europe

Lake Matheson reflecting a near perfect image of Mount Tasman and Aoraki (Mount Cook), 3754m, Australasia's highest mountain, Southern Alps, South Island New Zealand, Pacific

Lake Matheson reflecting a near perfect image of Mount Tasman and Aoraki (Mount Cook), 3754m, Australasia's highest mountain, Southern Alps, South Island New Zealand, Pacific

Tourist group in summer in Vrata valley walking towards Triglav mountain, the highest in Slovenia, Triglav National Park, Julian Alps, Mojstrana, Dolina, Slovenia, Europe

The Mont Blanc Tramway (TMB), the highest mountain railway line in France, French Alps, Saint-Gervais, Haute-Savoie, France, Europe

Lake Matheson reflecting a near perfect image of Mount Tasman and Aoraki (Mount Cook), 3754m, Australasia's highest mountain, Southern Alps, South Island New Zealand, Pacific

Lake Matheson reflecting a near perfect image of Mount Tasman and Aoraki (Mount Cook), 3754m, Australasia's highest mountain, Southern Alps, South Island New Zealand, Pacific

Kayaking on Lake Benmore and a distant Aoraki (Mount Cook), 3754m, Australasia's highest mountain, Southern Alps, Mackenzie Country, Otago, South Island, New Zealand, Pacific

View over Franz Josephs Hoehe (2369 m) to Pasterze glacier (the biggest glacier of Austria) and Grossglockner (3798 m, highest mountain of Austria), Carinthia, Austria

Summit station, Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, Wetterstein Range, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Wintry view of Saas Fee and three four-thousand-metre high mountain peaks, Taeschhorn mountain, 4491 m, Dom mountain, 4545 m, the highest mountain of Switzerland, and Lenzspitze mountain, 4264m, canton of Valais, Switzerland, Europe

Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, the German weather station (DWD) and skiing area, on the border between Germany and Austria, Europe

Mt Altmann, 2436 m, second highest mountain of the Alpstein Alps, Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland, Europe

Gondola lift up the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, Wetterstein Range, Werdenfels Region, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Sonn Alpin, Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, Wetterstein Range, Werdenfels Region, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Gondola lift up the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, Wetterstein Range, Werdenfels Region, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Dawn atmosphere, mist-covered Hegau volcanic range, with only the highest peaks Hohenhewen and Hohenstoffel exposed, Swiss Alps in background, Hegau, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Summit cross at 2962 m or 9718 ft on the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, Wetterstein Range, Werdenfels Region, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Spring Road ("Fruehlingsstrasse") in wintertime, Wetterstein Range and the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

The three four-thousand-metre high mountain peaks, Taeschhorn mountain, 4491 m, Dom mountain, 4545 m, the highest mountain of Switzerland, and Lenzspitze mountain, 4264m, canton of Valais, Switzerland, Europe

Highest mountain of Europe, Mont Blanc, 4809 m

Summit cross at 2962 m or 9718 ft on the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, Wetterstein Range, Werdenfels Region, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Restaurant on Schwaegalp Mountain in front of Saentis Mountain, the highest mountain in Alpstein Mountains, Canton of Appenzell, Switzerland, Europe

Red cross helicopter in the Zugspitze, highest point in Germany

Summit cross at 2962 m or 9718 ft on the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, Wetterstein Range, Werdenfels Region, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Berghotel Schwaegalp with cable car in front of Saentis Mountain, the highest mountain in Alpstein Mountains, Canton of Appenzell, Switzerland, Europe

Plate of Freistaat Bayern, Free State of Bavaria, peak of Zugspitze, highest mountain in Germany, Europe

Wetterstein mountain chain with Mt. Zugspitze from Ehrwald with wayside cross, Austria. Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, is in the background in the left. The cablecar from Ehrwald to Zugspitze is visible on the left. The village Ehrwald is a famous tourist destination in summer and winter, Austria, Tyrol, Ehrwald

Wetterstein mountain chain with Mt. Zugspitze seen from the west during sunset in winter. Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, is in the background in the left. The village Ehrwald is a famous tourist destination in summer and winter, Austria, Tyrol, Ehrwald, February

Karwendel Mountain Range between Johannestal and Birkkar-Spitze, the highest peak of the Karwendel Mts., Austria. The Karwendel limestone mountain range is the largest range in the eastern alps. Large parts of the Karwendel are protected and a popular destination for tourists, hikers and climbers. Europe, Central Europe, Austria, Tyrol, July

A male mountaineer is standing on the summit of the Barrhorn, a mountain peak of 3610 meter in the Swiss Alps. It is one of the highest summits in Europe to be accessible to experienced hikers. The region of Wallis is home to over 40 mountain peaks higher than 4000 meter. The highest one that is completely situated within the Swiss borders is the Dom, which is visible in the background. The Mattertal runs from Visp all the way to Zermatt and is a paradise for all outdoor enthusiasts, like hikers, climbers, alpinists, walkers, mountain bikers and nature lovers.

Four road bikers on a winding mountain road on their way to the Emosson reservoir lake in the Alps on the border of France and Switzerland. It is an early morning training session of the local cyclists. The sun is rising, clouds are in the valley, and in the background the mountain peaks of Chamonix are visible, including Mont Blanc, the highest mountain of the Alps. This climb will be stage 17 of the 2016 Tour de France on July 20th 2016. Depart is in Bern and the finish near the Emosson reservoir at 1960 meters height.

Early one winter morning, a snowboarder makes a turn underneath Mt. Blanc, Europest tallest mountain. Chamonix, France.

A hiker is looking at a sign post near Courmayeur, half way the Tour du Mont Blanc, a classic multi day hike around the highest mountain of the European Alps. The trek takes about 10 days and goes through France, Italy and Switzerland.

Four road bikers on a winding mountain road on their way to the Emosson reservoir lake in the Alps on the border of France and Switzerland. It is an early morning training session of the local cyclists. The sun is rising, clouds are in the valley, and in the background the mountain peaks of Chamonix are visible, including Mont Blanc, the highest mountain of the Alps. This climb will be stage 17 of the 2016 Tour de France on July 20th 2016. Depart is in Bern and the finish near the Emosson reservoir at 1960 meters height.

A hiker is scrambling on a spectacular rock formation near the Col des Fours above la Ville des Glaciers. This is halfway the Tour du Mont Blanc, a classic trekking around the highest peak of the Alps, that goes through France, Italy and Switzerland.

French Alps and Aiguille du midi panoramic viewing deck through the ice cave, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Rhone-Alpes, France

A couple takes a break and rests in the back of their campervan looking at their travel log at the base of the Alps before heading through Austria's highest mountain pass, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road; Austria

A paraglider flying over Mount Blanc in summer, Alps, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Haute-Savoie, France

The statue of Saussure and Balmat, Chamonix-Mont Blanc, Rhone-Alpes, France

Alpenrose (Rhododendron ferrugineum) flowers over Mer de Glacier and Grandes Jorasses, Alps, France

Mont Blanc Massif with Italian Val Ferret, Alps, La Vachey, Aosta Valley, Italy