Alps (Europe)
The maximum altitude of the climatic treeline varies from 1800 m in the northern front ranges to 2300 m in the central ranges ("Massenerhebungseffekt"). The natural treeline elevation does not vary with slope exposure, but forests are more fragmented on northern slopes. In many places pastures have replaced the uppermost forests over the past 500 years. Currently many of these pastures have been abandoned, permitting tree encroachment.
1 - Treeline
near Davos, Swiss Alps, 2200 m. Larix
decidua and Pinus uncinata
in autumn. (a)
2 - Mont
Noble, Swiss Alps, 2300 m (b)
3 -
Pinus cembra (b)
4 - Mount
Patscherkofel, Austrian Alps, 2000 m (c)
