Published on •Updated
Mont Blanc has grown higher. The tallest peak in Western Europe now stands at 4,807.47 metres, almost two metres more than in 2023.
An altitude that "is close to the historical value" recorded at the end of the 19th century, according to expert surveyors in Haute-Savoie who have been regularly measuring the summit since 2001.
However, they are urging caution: this "one-off" reading does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the effects of global warming. Mont Blanc's elevation varies with the weather, in particular precipitation and winds that shift and redistribute the snow at the summit.
"Today, the summit is really shaped by the force of the winds and by precipitation, even though this year has been particularly dry," explains Mathieu Dragon, a chartered surveyor in Haute-Savoie.
A new technique to study the summit
This year, to refine their observations, the surveyors used ground-penetrating radar to map the ice cap and the rocky peak beneath it.
The data collected will help refine their measurements and track how the roof of Western Europe changes over the coming years.