<Tr> <Th> Age of rock </Th> <Td> Tertiary </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Type of rock </Th> <Td> Bündner schist, flysch and molasse </Td> </Tr> <P> The Alps (/ ælps /; French: Alpes (alp); German: Alpen (ˈalpn̩); Italian: Alpi (ˈalpi); Romansh: Alps; Slovene: Alpe (ˈáːlpɛ)) are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia . The mountains were formed over tens of millions of years as the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided . Extreme shortening caused by the event resulted in marine sedimentary rocks rising by thrusting and folding into high mountain peaks such as Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn . Mont Blanc spans the French--Italian border, and at 4,810 m (15,781 ft) is the highest mountain in the Alps . The Alpine region area contains about a hundred peaks higher than 4000 metres (just over 13,000 feet). </P> <P> The altitude and size of the range affects the climate in Europe; in the mountains precipitation levels vary greatly and climatic conditions consist of distinct zones . Wildlife such as ibex live in the higher peaks to elevations of 3,400 m (11,155 ft), and plants such as Edelweiss grow in rocky areas in lower elevations as well as in higher elevations . Evidence of human habitation in the Alps goes back to the Palaeolithic era . A mummified man, determined to be 5,000 years old, was discovered on a glacier at the Austrian--Italian border in 1991 . </P>

Where are the alps on the world map