In the Alps the morphology of the peaks and summits above 4,000m is quite varied. There are single massive mountains with a well-defined morphology, but also more ‘ragged’ mountains, with several tips, small peaks, shoulders and small reliefs which are above 4,000m and often bear an altitude mark but no name on the maps.
1. General concept of summit: any point of the alpine surface which is elevated by a certain difference in height in respect to the surrounding ground.
2. Any summit must be ‘autonomous’ in the sense of possessing individuality, interest, and other characteristics in order to be included in the ‘alpine summits of over 4,000 m’.
3. A certain number of summits, with a well-defined morphology, are automatically included in the list. For the choice of other summits, however, even for some included in precedent lists, but considered to be at the brink of acceptability, other criteria of choice had to be applied.
4. The list is intended to be primarily for mountaineers. Therefore, it is not based only on topographic criteria (which are anyway the main element), but also on complementary, more subjective criteria which could change the evolution of alpinism.
1. Topographic criterium: for each summit, the level difference between it and the highest adjacent pass or notch should be at least 30 m (calculated as average of the summits at the limit of acceptability). An additional criterium can be the horizontal distance between a summit and the base of another adjacent 4000er.
2. Morphological criterium: takes into account the overall morphology and aspect of a summit (applied especially for shoulders, secondary summits, rock outcrops, etc).
3. Mountaineering criterium: it takes into account the importance of a summit from the point of view of mountaineering: the qualities of the routes reaching it, the historical significance, and how frequently it is climbed.
Peak | Altitude | Group | Country |
---|---|---|---|
Mont Blanc | 4,808.73m | Mont Blanc Group | France/Italy |
Mont Blanc de Courmayeur | 4,748 | Mont Blanc Group | France/Italy |
Dufourspitze | 4,634 | Monte Rosa Massif | Switzerland |
Nordend | 4,609 | Monte Rosa Massif | Italy/Switzerland |
Zumsteinspitze | 4,563 | Monte Rosa Massif | Italy/Switzerland |
Signalkuppe | 4,554 | Monte Rosa Massif | Italy/Switzerland |
Dom | 4,545 | Mischabel Group | Switzerland |
Liskamm (Eastern Summit) | 4,527 | Wallis Alps | Italy/Switzerland |
Weisshorn | 4,505 | Wallis Alps | Switzerland |
Täschhorn | 4,491 | Mischabel Group | Switzerland |
Liskamm (Western Summit) | 4,479 | Wallis Alps | Italy/Switzerland |
Matterhorn | 4,478 | Wallis Alps | Italy/Switzerland |
Picco Luigi Amedeo | 4,469 | Mont Blanc Group | Italy |
Mont Maudit | 4,465 | Mont Blanc Group | France/Italy |
Parrotspitze | 4,432 | Monte Rosa Massif | Italy/Switzerland |
Dent Blanche | 4,357 | Wallis Alps | Switzerland |
Ludwigshöhe | 4,341 | Monte Rosa Massif | Italy/Switzerland |
Nadelhorn | 4,327 | Mischabel Group | Switzerland |
Schwarzhorn (Corno Nero) | 4,322 | Monte Rosa Massif | Italy |
Grand Combin (Grafeneire) | 4,314 | Wallis Alps | Switzerland |
Dôme du Goûter | 4,304 | Mont Blanc Group | France |
Lenzspitze | 4,294 | Mischabel Group | Switzerland |
Finsteraarhorn | 4,274 | Bernese Alps | Switzerland |
Mont Blanc du Tacul | 4,248 | Mont Blanc Group | France |
Grand Pilier d’Angle | 4,243 | Mont Blanc Group | Italy |
Stecknadelhorn | 4,241 | Mischabel Group | Switzerland |
Castor | 4,223 | Wallis Alps | Italy/Switzerland |
Zinalrothorn | 4,221 | Wallis Alps | Switzerland |
Hohberghorn | 4,219 | Mischabel Group | Switzerland |
Vincent Pyramid | 4,215 | Monte Rosa Massif | Italy |
Grandes Jorasses (Pointe Walker) | 4,208 | Mont Blanc Group | France/Italy |
Alphubel | 4,206 | Mischabel Group | Switzerland |
Rimpfischhorn | 4,199 | Mischabel Group | Switzerland |
Aletschhorn | 4,193 | Bernese Alps | Switzerland |
Strahlhorn | 4,190 | Mischabel Group | Switzerland |
Grand Combin (Valsorey) | 4,184 | Wallis Alps | Switzerland |
Grandes Jorasses (Pointe Whymper) | 4,184 | Mont Blanc Group | France/Italy |
Dent d’Hérens | 4,171 | Wallis Alps | Italy/Switzerland |
Breithorn (Western Summit) | 4,164 | Wallis Alps | Italy/Switzerland |
Breithorn (Central Summit) | 4,159 | Wallis Alps | Italy/Switzerland |
Jungfrau | 4,158 | Bernese Alps | Switzerland |
Bishorn | 4,153 | Wallis Alps | Switzerland |
Breithorn (Eastern Summit/ western Twin Peak) | 4,139 | Wallis Alps | Italy/Switzerland |
Grand Combin (Tsessette) | 4,135 | Wallis Alps | Switzerland |
Aiguille Verte | 4,122 | Mont Blanc Group | France |
Aiguilles du Diable (L’Isolée) | 4,114 | Mont Blanc Group | France |
Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey | 4,112 | Mont Blanc Group | Italy |
Grandes Jorasses (Pointe Croz) | 4,110 | Mont Blanc Group | France/Italy |
Aiguilles du Diable (Pointe Carmen) | 4,109 | Mont Blanc Group | France |
Mönch | 4,107 | Bernese Alps | Switzerland |
Breithorn (Gendarm/ eastern Twin Peak) | 4,106 | Wallis Alps | Italy/Switzerland |
Grande Rocheuse | 4,102 | Mont Blanc Group | France |
Barre des Écrins | 4,102 | Pelvoux | France |
Aiguilles du Diable (Pointe Médiane) | 4,097 | Mont Blanc Group | France |
Pollux | 4,092 | Wallis Alps | Italy/Switzerland |
Schreckhorn | 4,078 | Bernese Alps | Switzerland |
Breithorn (Roccia Nera) | 4,075 | Wallis Alps | Italy/Switzerland |
Aiguilles du Diable (Pointe Chaubert) | 4,074 | Mont Blanc Group | France |
Mont Brouillard | 4,069 | Mont Blanc Group | France |
Grandes Jorasses (Pointe Marguerite) | 4,065 | Mont Blanc Group | France/Italy |
Aiguilles du Diable (Corne du Diable) | 4,064 | Mont Blanc Group | France |
Ober Gabelhorn | 4,063 | Wallis Alps | Switzerland |
Gran Paradiso | 4,061 | Graian Alps | Italy |
Aiguille de Bionnassay | 4,052 | Mont Blanc Group | France/Italy |
Piz Bernina | 4,049 | Bernina Group | Switzerland |
Gross Fiescherhorn | 4,049 | Bernese Alps | Switzerland |
Vincent Pyramid (Punta Giordani/Giordanispetz) | 4,046 | Monte Rosa Massif | Italy |
Grandes Jorasses (Pointe Elena) | 4,045 | Mont Blanc Group | France/Italy |
Grünhorn | 4,044 | Bernese Alps | Switzerland |
Lauteraarhorn | 4,042 | Bernese Alps | Switzerland |
Aiguille du Jardin | 4,035 | Mont Blanc Group | France |
Dürrenhorn | 4,035 | Mischabel Group | Switzerland |
Allalinhorn | 4,027 | Wallis Alps | Switzerland |
Hinter Fiescherhorn | 4,025 | Bernese Alps | Switzerland |
Weissmies | 4,017 | Wallis Alps | Switzerland |
Dôme de Rochefort | 4,015 | Mont Blanc Group | France/Italy |
Barre des Écrins (Dôme de Neige) | 4,015 | Pelvoux | France |
Dent du Géant | 4,013 | Mont Blanc Group | France/Italy |
Punta Baretti | 4,013 | Mont Blanc Group | Italy |
Lagginhorn | 4,010 | Wallis Alps | Switzerland |
Aiguille de Rochefort | 4,001 | Mont Blanc Group | France/Italy |
Les Droites | 4,000 | Mont Blanc Group | France |
This list is the result of many years of work by a group of mountaineers from both Spain and France led by Jean Buyse. The guiding principles used in this list are very similar, if not equivalent, to those used for the Alps. The distinction between main peaks and secondary peaks, and rigid criteria of acceptance have been defined: peaks must have a name, and be on a map or guidebook to be considered for entry.
If they are the culmination (highest) point of a given mountain, or elevations at a meeting of at least three ridges descending from the same summit and delimiting the slopes of said summit, they have been included in the main list. If they satisfy the first two, but none of these last two criteria, then they appear in the list of secondary peaks.
Balaïtous | 3,144 m |
Enfer central | 3,083 m |
Enfer oriental | 3,076 m |
Enfer occidental | 3,073 m |
Frondella NE | 3,071 m |
Garmo negro | 3,051 m |
Argualas | 3,046 m |
Algas | 3,036 m |
Arnales | 3,006 m |
Grande Fache | 3,005 m |
Frondella SW | 3,001 m |
Pique longue | 3,298 m |
Clot de la Hount | 3,289 m |
Cerbillona | 3,247 m |
Pic central | 3,235 m |
Pic de Montferrat | 3,219 m |
Pointe Chausenque | 3,204 m |
Piton Carré | 3,197 m |
Grand Tapou | 3,150 m |
Pic du Milieu | 3,130 m |
Petit Vignemale | 3,032 m |
Monte Perdido | 3,355 m |
Cilindro de Marboré | 3,328 m |
Soum de Ramond | 3,258 m |
Pic du Marboré | 3,248 m |
Pic de la cascade oriental | 3,161 m |
Pic du Taillon | 3,144 m |
Pic de la cascade central or Pic Brulle | 3,106 m |
Pic de la cascade occidental | 3,095 m |
Épaule du Marboré | 3,073 m |
Astazou Oriental or Grand Astazou | 3,071 m |
Baudrimont NW | 3,045 m |
Gabietou occidental | 3,034 m |
Gabietou oriental | 3,031 m |
Baudrimont SE | 3,026 m |
Astazou occidental or Petit Astazou | 3,012 m |
Tour du Marboré | 3,009 m |
Casque du Marboré | 3,006 m |
Punta de las Olas | 3,002 m |
Pic de la Munia | 3,133 m |
Serre Mourene | 3,090 m |
Troumouse | 3,085 m |
Heid | 3,022 m |
Robiñera | 3,003 m |
Pic Long | 3,192 m |
Campbieil | 3,173 m |
Badet | 3,160 m |
Pic de Néouvielle | 3,091 m |
Maou | 3,074 m |
Maubic | 3,058 m |
Trois Conseillers | 3,039 m |
Turon de Néouvielle | 3,035 m |
Bugarret | 3,031 m |
Pale Crabounouse | 3,021 m |
Dent d’Estibere | 3,017 m |
Pic Ramougn | 3,011 m |
Estaragne | 3,006 m |
Pic Schrader | 3,177 m |
Punta del Sabre | 3,136 m |
Pointe Ledormeur | 3,120 m |
Pic Marcos Feliu | 3,067 m |
Batoua SW | 3,034 m |
Abeille | 3,029 m |
Pic de la Pez | 3,024 m |
Lustou | 3,023 m |
Pic du Port de la Pez | 3,018 m |
Posets peak | 3,375 m |
Espadas | 3,332 m |
Les Jumeaux Ravier | 3,160 m |
Les Veterans | 3,125 m |
Pavots | 3,121 m |
Dent de Llardana | 3,085 m |
Bardamina | 3,079 m |
Pic de la Paul | 3,078 m |
Grand Eriste | 3,053 m |
Eriste S | 3,045 m |
Beraldi | 3,025 m |
Turets NW | 3,007 m |
Perdiguero | 3,222 m |
Punta de Lliterola | 3,132 m |
Pic des Gourgs Blancs | 3,129 m |
Pic Royo | 3,121 m |
Crabioules Oriental | 3,116 m |
Seil Dera Baquo | 3,110 m |
Pic de Maupas | 3,109 m |
Pic Lezat | 3,107 m |
Crabioules Occidental | 3,106 m |
Pic Jean Arlaud | 3,065 m |
Pic des Spijeoles | 3,065 m |
Grand Quayrat | 3,060 m |
Pic du Portillon d’Oô | 3,050 m |
Pic Camboue | 3,043 m |
Pic Gourdon | 3,034 m |
Pic de Clarabide | 3,020 m |
Pic de Gias | 3,011 m |
Pic Belloc | 3,008 m |
Pic de Boum | 3,006 m |
Pic de Saint Saud | 3,003 m |
Aneto | 3,404 m |
Pointe d'Astorg | 3,355 m |
Pic Maudit | 3,350 m |
Epaule de l’Aneto | 3,350 m |
Pico del Medio | 3,346 m |
La Maladeta | 3,308 m |
Pico de Coronas | 3,293 m |
Pic des Tempêtes | 3,290 m |
1st Pic Occidental Maladeta | 3,254 m |
Pic Margalida | 3,241 m |
2nd Pic Occidental Maladeta | 3,220 m |
Pic Russell | 3,205 m |
3rd Pic Occidental Maladeta | 3,185 m |
Pic le Bondidier | 3,185 m |
Diente de Alba | 3,136 m |
Pico de Alba | 3,118 m |
Pic de Vallibierna | 3,067 m |
Tuca de Culebras | 3,062 m |
Pic Aragüells | 3,037 m |
Tuc de Mulleres | 3,010 m |
Besiberri Nord | 3,014 m |
Punta Alta de Comalesbienes or Punta Alta | 3,014 m |
Pic Celestin Passet | 3,002 m |
Comaloforno | 3,033 m |
Besiberri Sud | 3,030 m |
Besiberri del MigS | 3,003 m |
Besiberri del MigN | 3,002 m |
Pic d'Estats | 3,143 m |
Pic Verdaguer | 3,131 m |
Punta Gabarró | 3,105 m |
Pic du Port de Sullo | 3,072 m |
Pic de Montcalm | 3,077 m |