| Breithorn | |
|---|---|
 The north side of the Breithorn as seen fromGandegg | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Breithorn (Western Summit) |
| Elevation | 4,160 m (13,650 ft) |
| Prominence | 438 m (1,437 ft)[1] |
| Parent peak | Dufourspitze |
| Isolation | 4.0 km (2.5 mi)[2] |
| Listing | |
| Coordinates | 45°56′28″N7°44′50″E / 45.94111°N 7.74722°E /45.94111; 7.74722 |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Broad Horn |
| Language of name | German |
| Geography | |
  Breithorn Location in the Alps Show map of Alps Breithorn Breithorn (Switzerland) Show map of Switzerland Breithorn Breithorn (Italy) Show map of Italy | |
Location of the Breithorn   12km 7.5miles M a t t e r t a l V a l d ' H é r e n s V a l t o u r n e n c h e  Weisshornhütte  Valpelline  Italy  Switzerland Hörnlihütte Rifugio Jean-Antoine Carrel Rifugio Campanna Aosta    Breithorn Location in the Alps | |
| Countries | |
| Canton/Region | |
| Parent range | Pennine Alps |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1813 |
| Easiest route | Basic glacier/snow climb |
TheBreithorn (Swiss Standard German pronunciation:[ˈbraɪthɔrn];German for literally "broad horn"; 13,661 ft. or 4,160 m) is amountain range of thePennine Alps with its highest peak of the same name (but also calledBreithorn (Western Summit)), located on the border betweenSwitzerland andItaly. It lies on the main chain of the Alps, approximately halfway between theMatterhorn andMonte Rosa and east of theTheodul Pass. Most of the massif is glaciated and includes several subsidiary peaks, all located east of the main summit: theCentral Breithorn, thewestern Breithorn Twin (or Eastern Breithorn), theGendarm (or eastern Breithorn Twin) and theRoccia Nera. The main summit is sometimes distinguished by the nameWestern Breithorn (German:Breithorn (Westgipfel),Italian:Breithorn Occidentale). The nearest settlements areZermatt (Valais) andSt-Jacques (Aosta Valley).
The Breithorn is considered the most easily climbed 4,000 m Alpine peak. This is due to theKlein Matterhorncable car which takes climbers to over 3,820 m (12,700 ft) fromZermatt for a starting point. The standard route (SSW flank) is from the Italian side of the mountain (the south side) and continues over aglacial plateau before climbing to the summit on a 35 degree snow slope. However, inexperienced mountaineers may run into severe difficulty if caution is not taken nearcornices or in bad weather. For experienced climbers wanting more of a challenge, the half traverse of the Breithorn crest is another option.
The Breithorn was first climbed in 1813 byHenry Maynard (climber),Joseph-Marie Couttet,Jean Gras,Jean-Baptiste Erin andJean-Jacques Erin.
Media related toBreithorn at Wikimedia Commons
