The Ligurian Alps are a mountain range in northwestern Italy. A small part is located in France. They form the south-western extremity of the Alps, separated from the Apennines by the Colle di Cadibona. The Col de Tende and the Vermenagna valley separate them from the Maritime Alps. They form the border between Piedmont in the north and Liguria in the south.
Geography Administratively the range is divided between the Italian provinces of Cuneo, Imperia and Savona and the French department of Alpes-Maritimes (south-western slopes).
The Ligurian Alps are drained by the Tanaro River, along with other tributaries of the Po River, on the Piedmontese side, and by several smaller rivers that flow directly to the Mediterranean Sea on the Ligurian and French side.
Chief peaks and passes
The chief peak of the Western Ligurian Alps is Punta Marguareis (2,651 m), and there are several other summits over 2000 m, while in Eastern Ligurian Alps (also called Ligurian Prealps) the maximum elevation is 1739 m (Monte Armetta).
Namemetresfeet Punta Marguareis 2,651 8,695 Monte Mongioie 2,631 8,632 Cima delle Saline 2,612 8,567 Bric di Conoia 2,521 8,271 Cima della Fascia 2,495 8186 Monte Bertrand 2,480 8136 Pizzo d'Ormea 2,476 8,121 Cima di Pertegà 2,404 7,887 Bric Costa Rossa 2,403 7,884Cima di Serpentera Nord2,3587,736 Cime de Missun 2,255 7726 Monte Besimauda 2,231 7,317 Cima Cars 2,218 7,277 Monte Saccarello 2,201 7,219 Punta Mirauda 2,157 7077 Monte Frontè 2,152 7,058 Monte Antoroto 2,144 7,032 Monte Tanarello 2,096 6,877 Monte Fantino 2,094 6,870 Monte Monega 1,882 6,175 Bric Mindino 1,879 6,163 Monte Armetta 1,739 5,703 Monte Galero 1,708 5,602 Monte della Guardia 1,658 5,440 Rocca delle Penne 1,501 4,925 Monte Carmo di Loano 1,389 4,555 Monte Settepani 1,386 4,546 Monte Spinarda 1,357 4,453 Monte Cianea 1,226 4,022 Monte Camulera 1,224 4,016 Rocca Barbena 1,142 3,747 Monte Peso Grande 1,092 3,583 Monte Alpe 1,056 3,465
Some important passes in the Ligurian Alps are listed below.
Name Location Type Elevation Colle di Cadibona Savona to Altare highway Colle di Melogno Finale Ligure to Calizzano road Giogo di Toirano Toirano to Bardineto road Colle Scravaion Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena to Bardineto road Colle San Bernardo Albenga to Garessio road Colle di Nava Imperia to Ormea road Colle del Quazzo Calizzano to Garessio road Colle San Bernardo di Mendatica Mendatica to Triora and Colle di Nava road Col de Tende/Colle di Tenda Tende to Cuneo road Passo della Teglia Molini di Triora to Rezzo road
Conservation
Around of the Ligurian side of the range since 2007 are part of the Regional Natural Park of the Ligurian Alps. On the northern side of the range stands the Natural Park of Marguareis, another regional natural park established by the regional government of Piemonte in 1978.
See also Apennines List of highest paved roads in Europe List of mountain passes Lake Raschera Testa Ciaudon
Maps Italian official cartography (Istituto Geografico Militare - IGM); on-line version: www.pcn.minambiente.it French official cartography (Institut Géographique National - IGN); on-line version: www.geoportail.fr
References