The Matterhorn: a unique peak

If you’re hiking the Chamonix Zermatt Haute Route, you’ll see many impressive mountains, but you   probably wouldn’t find it very difficult to point out which one is the Matterhorn. Its iconic pyramidal shape makes it instantly recognizable. In a previous blog, How the Matterhorn got its shape, I’ve already explained which geological forces played a role in creating this unique mountain. The Matterhorn is a glacial horn and glaciers were the main driving force in shaping it. And everywhere in the world where there has been glaciation, there are horns.

Read: How were the Alps formed, a short guide to the Alps’ geology

Not the only one of its kind

This means that the Matterhorn is not the only one of its kind. You’ll find horns all over the world. Glacier National Park in Montana in the United States has Clements Mountain (2670 m), Kinnerly Peak (3032 m) and Bearhat Mountain (2647 m), just to name a few. Also, within Europe, besides the famous Matterhorn, you can find many other horns, for example the Kitzsteinhorn (3203 m) in Salzburg, Austria. Another splendid example of a horn carved by glaciers is Norway’s fourth-highest peak, the Store Skagastølstind (2405 m), also known as the Storen. The most recognizable mountain of Scotland, the Buachaille Etive Mòr (1022 m), or the Buachaille, is also a horn formed by glaciers.

Nicknames

Some mountains resemblance to the iconic shape of the Matterhorn is so strong, they even have a nickname referring to the Swiss mountain. Mount Assiniboine (3618 m) in British Columbia, for example, looks exactly like its Swiss twin and bears the appropriate nickname ‘Matterhorn of the Rockies’. There is also a ‘Matterhorn of the Himalayas’: the sharp peak and the steep cliffs of the Ama Dablam (6812 m) in East Nepal do justice to this name, but also the Indian Shivling (6543 m) with its striking peak will remind you of the Matterhorn. New Zealand has Mount Aspiring (3033 m) in Otago which is nicknamed ‘Matterhorn of the South’.

Only one real Matterhorn

But no matter how impressive all these mountains may be, there is, of course, only one real Matterhorn: the magnificent mountain that marks your final destination on the Chamonix Zermatt Haute Route.

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Simone van Velzen

In her work as an alpine naturalist Simone adds an exciting new dimension to your Tour du Mont Blanc trek with insights into the incredibly rich flora and fauna of the Alps. Simone studied Wildlife Management at the Van Hall Institute in the Netherlands. After her studies she left her home country (which is flatter than a pancake) and moved to British Columbia. In the Canadian Rockies, she discovered the astonishing richness of mountain environments. Her passion for mountain nature was born. And when she returned to Europe, she based herself in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, the perfect setting for exploring and studying the natural history of mountain environments. As an alpine naturalist she writes for outdoor magazines and leads excursions in the natural world.

If you step into the natural world with Simone, her passion for all living things—wild flowers to lichen, birds to mammals—can’t help but rub off on you. She’s excited to meet you on your Tour du Mont Blanc and share the amazing natural wonders in the Alps.

Latest posts by Simone van Velzen (see all)

• The Alps: A Biodiversity Treasure Trove - December 10, 2020
• Flora in the Alps – Spotlight on the Alpenrose - June 25, 2020
• Tour du Mont Blanc Hightlight: The Contamines-Montjoie Nature Reserve - May 21, 2020