The Alps

• Human activity in fold mountains - The Alps

  • The Alps are home to eleven million people and thus is the most densely populated mountain area in the world. The economy of this region is based on the exploitation of the coniferous forest and pasturing dairy cattle, and tourism plays an important role.

• Tourism

  • Since the end of the World War II, the Alps have become the winter and summer place of attraction European urban dwellers.
  • During winter, the Alps play an important role for the tourists. Ski resorts such as Val d'Isere and Les Deux Alps have been built for this purpose

• Farming and Forestry

  • Coniferous trees are the main species of trees in the Alps . Their cone-shaped feature stabilizes the tree in windy conditions. The downward sloping, springy branches allows the snow to slide of the tree without damaging its branches.
  • The wide meadows of The Alps make the area ideal for sheep farming. In the more extreme upland areas, goat herding is the main type of farming.

• HEP Schemes

  • Hydroelectric power schemes are common in The Alps. The combination of tectonic and glacial processes makes the area ideally for HEP schemes. HEP schemes often involve many different watersheds.
  • The development of HEP in The Alps led to the establishment in the lower valleys of electricity-dependent industries, manufacturing such products as aluminium, chemicals, and speciality steels.
    
    

    The Alps

    Source: http://pirate.shu.edu/~schoenma/mountains.htm

    
    Source:
    http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/topics/foldmountain.html#how