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EUROPE  ULTRA-PROMINENCES

99 Peaks with Prominence of 1,500 meters or greater

List includes the European "Top 100" with and without external islands.


List compiled 2004 by Petter Bjørstad, Jonathan de Ferranti, Eberhard Jurgalski, Vasja Kavcic and Aaron Maizlish
THE LISTINGS

There are legitimate differences of opinion as to what constitutes "Europe" as distinct from Asia and Oceania.  As a result, we have elected to present the European Ultra-prominences on one "core list" below and two auxilliary lists.

"Core Europe" lists 99 summits on the mainland of the European Peninsula, Scandinavia and on the Mediterranean Islands.  Of the 99 ultras, 10 are on Mediterranean Islands, including the high point of Cyprus (which geographically should be Asia Minor).  Thirteen additional peaks are tacked on to the end of this list - to give the reader an even "Top 100" peaks both with and without the islands.

Nine additional ultras will be found on the Europe: Atlantic Islands list.  These are summits in the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Iceland, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen; all oceanic islands that are generally associated with Europe. 

The notion of Europe as separate from Asia is more problematic.  Other continents that connect by land (South America to North America and Africa to Asia) are traditionally demarcated at a natural low saddle; i.e. at the point where the continents would separate were the ocean to rise just a little bit.   Geographers however  historically separate Europe and Asia along high mountain ranges and not low saddles.  The Europe/Asia boundary traditionally extends south from the Arctic Ocean along the crest of the Ural Mountains, down the middle of the Ural River into the Caspian Sea, thence along the high ridge of the Caucasus into the Black Sea, through the Bosporus and into the Mediterranean.  Precise demarcation of this imaginary physical boundary is fuzzy, and the author doubts that any precise survey has ever been attempted. 

From a prominence standpoint however things should be more simple.  The lowpoint demarcating the European Peninsula from Central Asia would enter the Black Sea at the Bosporus, then follow the Don River to the Volga/Don Canal (the Basin Saddle for the Caspian Basin), then follow the Volga River up to the Mont Blanc key saddle at the Volga-Baltic-White Sea Canal.  From the saddle, the divide would descend to the Ozero Onezhskoye (Onega) lake, and then follow the lake's natural drainage down the Svir to the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic.   In this model, the Scandinavian Peninsula is thereby isolated from the rest of Europe.   This version of Europe equates to the Mont Blanc Lineage Area (for help with terminology refer to the Theory section.)

To simplify matters, we created a separate list, European Russia and the Caucasian States for the two summits east of the Volga that are on the Eurasian divide, and 10 summits in the Caucasus and Transcaucasus.

It is felt therefore that hikers desiring to work on hiking the European ultra-prominences may therefore content themselves with the "Core Europe" list, or may choose to draw inspiration from the two auxiliary lists. 

MAPS

Two large .gif files have been prepared that show the location of Core European summits.  euro map 2euro map small

Map 1    The European Peninsula, including Mediterranean Islands.  (472 kb)
Map 2    Scandinavia.  (152 kb)

On the map, each ultra-prominence is identified by a number, representing its relative rank.  Names and provisional prominence values appear at the bottom of the page. 

Large red triangles represent peaks with 610-1,499 meters prominence (2,000-4,921 ft).  Small red triangles represent peaks with 305-609 meters (1,000-1,999 ft) prominence. 

See also the Footnotes, Links and Summary of Data at the bottom of the page.

Revisions: March 20, 2011 (new Romanian Ultra added) - and 22 September 2011 (Cima Brenta replaces Cima Tosa)
Rank Summit Name Country Elevation
(m)		 Prominence
(m)		 Saddle
(m)		 Latitude Longitude Elev.
(ft)		 Prom.
(ft)		 Footnotes

1 Mont Blanc France 4808.75
 4696 113 45º49'57"N 6º51'52"E 15777 15410 [1]
2 Monte Etna Italy (Sicily)
 3323 3323 0 37º45'04"N 14º59'45"E 10902 10902
3 Pico del Mulhacén Spain 3479 3285 194 37º03'16"N 3º18'36"W 11414 10777
4 Pico de Aneto Spain 3404 2812 592 42º37'56"N 0º39'28"E 11168 9226
5 Monte Cinto France (Corsica)
 2706 2706 0 42º22'48"N 8º56'50"E 8878 8878
6 Corno Grande Italy 2912 2476 436 42º28'12"N 13º34'02"E 9554 8123
7 Musala Bulgaria 2925 2473 452 42º10'47"N 23º35'12"E 9596 8113
8 Psiloritis (Timios Stavros) Greece (Crete)
 2456 2456 0 35º13'36"N 24º46'21"E 8058 8058
9 Grossglockner Austria 3798 2423 1375 47º04'27"N 12º41'40"E 12460 7949
10 Galdhøpiggen Norway 2469 2372 97 61º38'12"N 8º18'54"E 8100 7782
11 Olympos Oros (Mytikas) Greece 2919 2355 564 40º04'58"N 22º21'04"E 9576 7726 [11]
12 Gerlach / Gerlachovsky Stít Slovakia 2655 2355 300 49º09'51"N 20º08'09"E 8709 7726
13 Profitis Ilias (HP Taygetos)
 Greece 2404 2344 60 36º57'14"N 22º21'08"E 7887 7690 [13]
14 Finsteraarhorn Switzerland 4274 2280 1994 46º32'14"N 8º07'34"E 14022 7480
15 Wildspitze Austria 3768 2261 1507 46º53'07"N 10º52'02"E 12362 7418
16 Piz Bernina Switzerland 4049 2234 1815 46º22'56"N 9º54'29"E 13284 7329 [16]
17 Hochkönig Austria 2941 2181 760 47º25'13"N 13º03'45"E 9649 7155
18 Golem Korab / Maja e Korabit Albania/Macedonia 2764 2169 595 41º47'28"N 20º32'52"E 9068 7116
19 Monte Rosa (Dufourspitze) Switzerland 4634 2165 2469 45º56'13"N 7º52'01"E 15203 7103
20 Hoher Dachstein Austria 2995 2136 859 47º28'31"N 13º36'23"E 9826 7008
21 Marmolada Italy 3343 2131 1212 46º26'05"N 11º51'03"E 10968 6991
22 Parîngul Mare Romania 2519 2103 416 45º20'28"N 23º32'26"E 8264 6900 [22]
23 Monte Viso Italy 3841 2062 1779 44º40'03"N 7º05'27"E 12602 6765
24 Triglav Slovenia 2864 2052 812 46º22'41"N 13º50'13"E 9396 6732
25 Varful Moldoveanu Romania 2544 2046 498 45º36'00"N 24º44'16"E 8346 6713
26 Barre des Écrins France 4102 2045 2057 44º55'21"N 6º21'36"E 13458 6709
27 Pakhnes Greece (Crete)
 2453 2038 415 35º17'33"N 24º02'00"E 8048 6686
28 Maja e Jezercës Albania 2694 2036 658 42º26'33"N 19º48'51"E 8838 6680 [28]
29 Säntis Switzerland 2503 2021 482 47º14'58"N 9º20'36"E 8212 6630
30 Athos / Ormos Vatopediou Greece 2030 2012 18 40º09'32"N 24º19'42"E 6660 6601 [30]
31 Ortler / Ortlés Italy 3905 1953 1952 46º30'32"N 10º32'41"E 12812 6407
32 Olympos Cyprus 1952 1952 0 34º56'18"N 32º51'40"E 6404 6404 [32]
33 Monte Baldo (Cima Valdritta) Italy 2218 1950 268 45º43'35"N 10º50'38"E 7277 6398
34 Torre de Cerredo Spain 2648 1931 717 43º11'53"N 4º51'04"W 8688 6335
35 Gran Paradiso Italy 4061 1891 2170 45º31'05"N 7º16'02"E 13323 6204
36 Pizzo di Coca Italy 3050 1878 1172 46º04'18"N 10º00'41"E 10006 6161
37 Cima Dodici Italy 2336 1874 462 45º59'51"N 11º28'05"E 7664 6148
38 Killini Oros Greece 2376 1870 506 37º56'23"N 22º23'49"E 7795 6135
39 Oros Ossa (Kissavos)
 Greece 1978 1854 124 39º47'49"N 22º41'13"E 6489 6083
40 La Marmora Italy (Sardinia)
 1834 1834 0 39º59'17"N
 9º19'27"E
 6017 6017
41 Monte Amaro Italy 2795 1812 983 42º05'13"N 14º05'15"E 9170 5945
42 Spathi / Lasithiotika Greece (Crete)
 2148 1798 350 35º07'08"N 25º29'56"E 7047 5899
43 Haute Cime: Dents du Midi Switzerland 3257 1796 1461 46º09'40"N 6º55'24"E 10686 5892
44 Nemerçka / Maja e Drites Albania 2482 1792 690 40º07'29"N 20º26'03"E 8144 5880
45 Vikhren Bulgaria 2914 1783 1131 41º46'04"N 23º24'03"E 9561 5851
46 Pangaion Greece 1956 1773 183 40º54'53"N 24º05'30"E 6417 5817
47 Chamechaude France 2082 1769 313 45º17'17"N 5º47'24"E 6831 5804
48 Varful Peleaga Romania 2509 1759 750 45º21'58"N 22º53'40"E 8232 5771
49 Kaimaktsalan / Voras Greece/Macedonia 2528 1758 770 40º55'52"N 21º47'21"E 8294 5768 [49]
50 Kebnekaise Sweden 2113 1754 359 67º54'04"N 18º31'15"E 6932 5755
51 Zugspitze Austria/Germany 2962 1746 1216 47º25'16"N 10º59'07"E 9718 5728
52 Dhirfis Oros Greece (Euboaea)
 1743 1743 0 38º37'39"N 23º50'34"E 5718 5718
53 Jiehkkevarri Norway 1834 1741 93 69º28'11"N 19º52'52"E 6017 5712
54 Smolikas Oros Greece 2637 1736 901 40º05'23"N 20º55'34"E 8651 5695
55 Monte Antelao Italy 3263 1734 1529 46º27'09"N 12º15'38"E 10705 5689
56 Pointe d'Arcalod France 2217 1719 498 45º40'54"N 6º13'42"E 7274 5640
57 Monte Dolcedorme Italy 2267 1715 552 39º53'41"N 16º13'03"E 7438 5627
58 Montalto Italy 1955 1709 246 38º09'32"N 15º55'16"E 6414 5607
59 Grintovec Slovenia 2558 1706 852 46º21'25"N 14º32'10"E 8392 5597
60 Großer Priel Austria 2515 1703 812 47º43'01"N 14º03'48"E 8251 5587
61 Oros Giona Greece 2510 1702 808 38º38'51"N 22º15'16"E 8235 5584
62 Plaza del Moro Almanzor Spain 2592 1690 902 40º14'51"N 5º17'46"W 8504 5545
63 Grigna Settentrionale Italy 2410 1687 723 45º57'12"N 9º23'15"E 7907 5535
64 Monte Bondone (Cornetto) Italy 2180 1685 495 45º59'17"N 11º01'53"E 7152 5528
65 Cima Presanella Italy 3558 1676 1882 46º13'12"N 10º39'50"E 11673 5499
66 Snøhetta Norway 2286 1675 611 62º19'14"N 9º16'18"E 7500 5495
67 Solunska Glava Macedonia 2540 1666 874 41º42'15"N 21º24'19"E 8333 5466
68 Maja e Kendrevicës Albania 2121 1666 455 40º17'13"N 19º51'06"E 6960 5467
69 Birnhorn Austria 2634 1665 969 47º28'29"N 12º44'02"E 8642 5463
70 Col Nudo Italy 2472 1645 827 46º13'39"N 12º24'10"E 8110 5397
71 Pointe Percée France 2753 1643 1110 45º57'20"N 6º33'22"E 9032 5390
72 Ainos Oros Greece (Kefallinia)
 1628 1628 0 38º08'14"N 20º40'22"E 5341 5341
73 Fengari Greece (Samothraki)
 1611 1611 0 40º27'42"N 25º35'15"E 5285 5285
74 Jof di Montasio / Montasch Italy 2752 1596 1156 46º36'09"N 13º26'01"E 9029 5236
75 Kerkini / Radomir Bulgaria/Greece 2031 1595 436 41º19'18"N 23º07'19"E 6663 5233
76 Liakoura Greece 2457 1590 867 38º32'09"N 22º37'27"E 8061 5216
77 Polinik Austria 2784 1580 1204 46º53'42"N 13º09'29"E 9134 5184
78 Puy de Sancy France 1885 1578 307 45º31'42"N 2º48'51"E 6184 5177
79 Monte Cimone Italy 2165 1577 588 44º11'38"N 10º42'05"E 7103 5174
80 Store Lenangstind Norway 1624 1576 48 69º42'37"N 20º05'26"E 5328 5171 [80]
81 Tödi Switzerland 3614 1570 2044 46º48'40"N 8º54'53"E 11857 5151
82 Birkkarspitze Austria 2749 1567 1182 47º24'40"N 11º26'16"E 9019 5141
83 Botev Bulgaria 2376 1567 809 42º43'03"N 24º55'00"E 7795 5141
84 Pietrosul Rodnei **NEWLY ADDED** Romania 2303 1565 738 47º35'41"N 24º38'12"E 7555 5134
85 Mali i Cikës Albania 2044 1563 481 40º11'54"N 19º38'31"E 6706 5128
86 Ellmauer Halt (HP Wilder Kaiser) Austria 2344 1552 792 47º33'44"N 12º18'11"E 7690 5092
87 Grande Tete de l'Obiou France 2790 1542 1248 44º46'34"N 5º50'27"E 9153 5059
88 Roman-Kosh Ukraine (Crimea)
 1545 1541 4 44º36'47"N 34º14'36"E 5069 5056 [87]
89 Maja e Valamares Albania 2373 1526 847 40º47'41"N 20º28'00"E 7785 5007
90 Hochtor Austria 2369 1520 849 47º33'42"N 14º37'58"E 7772 4987
91 Sarektjåkkå Sweden 2089 1519 570 67º25'55"N 17º43'30"E 6854 4984
92 Grimming Austria 2351 1518 833 47º31'14"N 14º01'01"E 7713 4980
93 Grand Combin de Grafeneire Switzerland 4314 1517 2797 45º56'15"N 7º17'57"E 14153 4977
94 Pelister Macedonia 2601 1516 1085 41º00'13"N 21º11'12"E 8533 4974
95 La Tournette France 2351 1514 837 45º49'38"N 6º17'11"E 7713 4967
96 Psili Korifi Greece 1589 1514 75 38º45'32"N 20º59'44"E 5213 4967
97 Piz Kesch Switzerland 3418 1504 1914 46º37'17"N 9º52'22"E 11214 4934
98 Zirbitzkogel Austria 2396 1502 894 47º03'49"N 14º34'02"E 7861 4928
99 Cima Brenta Italy 3151 1500 1651 46º10'46"N 10º54'00"E 10338 4921 [90]

Peaks that miss the 1500m cutoff:
99 Le Taillefer France 2857 1490 1367 45º02'23"N 5º55'30"E 9373 4888
100 Monte Amiata Italy 1738 1490 248 42º53'18"N 11º37'29"E 5702 4888
101 Midzor / Midzhur Bulgaria/Serbia 2168 1478 690 43º23'45"N 22º40'46"E 7113 4849
102 Bihor (Cucurbata Mare) Romania 1849 1478 371 46º26'29"N 22º41'25"E 6066 4849
103 Durmitor (Bobotov Kuk) Montenegro 2522 1477 1045 43º07'42"N 19º02'12"E 8274 4846
104 Monte Togano Italy 2301 1474 827 46º05'23"N 8º23'39"E 7549 4836
105 Pelion (Pourianos Stavros) Greece 1610 1473 137 39º26'18"N 23º02'51"E 5282 4833
106 Torrecilla Spain 1919 1472 447 36º40'33"N 4º59'47"W 6296 4829
107 Dammastock Switzerland 3630 1465 2165 46º38'36"N 8º25'16"E 11909 4806
108 Monte Vettore Italy 2476 1463 1013 42º49'30"N 13º16'36"E 8123 4800
109 Raucheck Austria
 2430 1463 967 47º29'57"N 13º13'36"E 7972 4800
110 Haldensteiner Calanda Switzerland 2806 1461 1345 46º54'00"N 9º28'03"E 9205 4792
111 Gjegnen / Blånibba Norway 1670 1460 210 61º48'12"N 5º49'29"E 5479 4790 [111]

Footnotes:

Peak names and elevations were exhaustively reviewed on national topographic survey maps of 1:50,000 scale and larger with few exceptions.  The authors recognize that many different elevations are given for many of these peaks, and every effort has been made to use the most reliable sources and to disregard the rest.  The Greek and Albanian summits in particular should be regarded as the most reliable.  If you believe that any figures on this page are in error or have been superceded by newer surveys, we would like to hear from you.   Saddles are mostly from 1:50,000 or better maps and confirmed by SRTM data analysis.

[1] See the discussion on Wikipedia about recent measurements for Mont Blanc.  A 2003 survey of Mont Blanc provided a new official (IGN) elevation of 4810m.  Subsequent surveys have provided 4808.45 and most recently 4808.75 meter elevation.  The summit has glacial cover to a depth of ±23 meters, thus annual fluctuation should be expected.  (Citation).  The Mont Blanc key saddle has been identified in Northern Russia near Ozero Onezhskoye.

[11]  Olympos official elevation of 2918.8m is mistakenly rounded down on the Greek topographic maps, which is a common rounding error on Greek and Italian maps.

[13] Profitis Ilias (the name of the summit on Mt. Taygetos) is the high point of the Peloponnese. Its key saddle is the Corinth Canal, which has zero elevation. In keeping with the prominence convention, we have estimated the "original" saddle as 60m asl prior to the canal cut.  Other map sources give the elevation as 2407m, but GPS readings seem to confirm the 2404m value on the Greek topographic maps.

[16] The true summit of Bernina is about 150 meters north of the Swiss/Italian border, wholly within Switzerland.

[22] Romanian topographic map gives an elevation of 2529m to nearby Varful Mindra, but we believe Paringul Mare is higher.

[28] Jezerces is widely regarded as having an elevation of 2694m.  The Soviet produced 1:50,000 topographic map gives an elevation of 2691.4m, but we are provisionally overriding that value.  All other Albanian elevations are from the 1:50,000 series.

[30] Alternate elevation of 2033m sometimes given.

[32] This peak is "geographically" in Asia Minor, but has been included on this list because of Cyprus' historical and political ties to Europe.

[49] The summit of Kaimaktsalan is in the Mount Voras ski area and may lie wholly within Greece.  Topographic maps give the elevation as 2524m, while the ski resort literature gives the elevation as 2528m.

[80]  The correct elevation of Store Lenangstind is 1624m.  Older maps give an elevation of 1596m.  The 1999 topographic series does not give a spot elevation, but leaves a large void area above the 1580m contour.  Researcher Petter Bjorstad has communicated with  the National Mapping Agency and determined that the top of the summit cairn measures 1624.9m asl,  indicating a natural summit height of approximately 1624m. 

[87] Roman-Kosh is the highpoint of the Crimean peninsula. Its key saddle is significantly altered.

[90] Cima Brenta replaced Cima Tosa. Observations on Cima Tosa by Petter Bjørstad showed Cima Tosa to be more than 30 metres lower than previously thought, possibly due to melting of its ice cap since it was last surveyed. For more information, see Petter's trip report.
[111] Blånibba would only count in the European Top 100 if one were to exclude all islands from the list and also the Peloponnese HP.  The Peloponnese is not really an island, but since the Corinth Canal bisects the isthmus at sea level, one might argue that it is a sort of man-made island.

Data by Country:

For those who prefer to categorize summits by country, the following table should inform.  Four summits sit on an international boundary.  (List for the 98 Ultras only)

Nation              # in          # on
                 Core Europe   Atlantic Is.

Albania               6
Austria              13
Bulgaria              4
Cyprus                1
France                9
Germany               1
Greece               18
Iceland               0           1
Italy                21
F.Y. Macedonia        4
Norway                4           2
Portugal              0           2
Romania               3
Slovakia              1
Slovenia              2
Spain                 4           4
Sweden                2
Switzerland           8
Ukraine               1

External Links

Petter Bjørstad, a Norwegian mountain-climber and prominence researcher, has a similar list on his mountains website with supplemental information on many of the peaks.
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