The summit of Mont Blanc is an ice and snow dome all year round, though its thickness varies. The variation in the thickness of the ice and snow means that Mont Blanc has no permanent height. Before the introduction of GPS technology, the mountain’s height was considered to be 15,770 feet (4,807 m). In 2002, GPS technology was used to measure the summit at 15,782 feet (4810.40 m). In 2005, the mountain was measured again and came in at 15,776 feet, nine inches (4,808.75 m).
Mont Blanc has claimed the lives of more climbers than any other mountain on the planet. At the same time, inexperienced climbers can climb Mont Blanc relatively successfully. The routes of Mont Blanc span the range of alpine climbing; there are both gentle walkups available and severe rock and ice climbing. Compared to the other big mountains of the world, Mont Blanc is easily accessible. The large town of Chamonix lies at its foot, and there is a sophisticated network of trams and cable cars around the mountain.
There is a long dispute, but peaceful, to who owns the summit of Mont Blanc. In the past, the entire mountain had been part of the kingdom of Sardinia. However, in May 1796, the Sardinian king gave up the territories to the French Republic. Modern maps place the summit directly on the French-Italian border. In both 1947 and 1963, an Italian and French commission redefined the Franco-Italian border. However, on both occasions, the commission ignored the issue of Mont Blanc, indicating that neither party was particularly interested in claiming this natural beauty for themselves.
In 1957, construction began on a tunnel running beneath Mont Blanc, linking Italy and France. The tunnel was completed in 1965; it is more than seven miles long (11.6 km). The tunnel was one of the first major trans-Alpine transport routes. The Italians use the tunnel to transport a third of their freight to northern Europe. In 1999, there was a major fire in the tunnel, killing 39 people.
Mont Blanc is often considered one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. It is significantly higher than any of the mountains; thus, it stands out significantly. The mountain is quintessentially alpine in appearance, with its snowbound peak and heavily glaciated and steep terrain. Mont Blanc is busiest during July and August when the most consistent conditions are found for climbing. However, at this time the regular routes are extremely crowded. September often has stable weather conditions, but from mid-October onwards, there is usually too much snow to climb the mountain.
