Dents du Midi
Encyclopedia
The Dents du Midi is a mountain chain situated in the Chablais Alps
in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland
. It is composed of seven distinct summits and reaches a height of 3257 metres (10,686 feet). Dominating the Val-d'Illiez
and the Rhône Valley, to the south it faces the Lac de Salanfe
, an artificial reservoir. Geologically it makes up a part of the massif Haut-Giffre.
but roads and footpaths were closed as a security measure. According to the geologists of the canton, the landslide
was caused by thawing, assisted by the hot summers of the preceding years.
Each peak, or "tooth", has had several names over the centuries:
), for example, no longer has two summits, since a landslide in the Middle Ages
significantly changed this peak.
Chablais Alps
The Chablais Alps are a mountain range in the western Alps. They are situated between Lake Geneva and the Mont Blanc Massif. The Col des Montets separates them from the Mont Blanc Massif in the south, and the Rhône valley separates them from the Bernese Alps in the east.The Chablais Alps are...
in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It is composed of seven distinct summits and reaches a height of 3257 metres (10,686 feet). Dominating the Val-d'Illiez
Val-d'Illiez
Val-d'Illiez is a municipality in the district of Monthey in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-Geography:Val-d'Illiez has an area, , of . Of this area, or 38.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 36.7% is forested...
and the Rhône Valley, to the south it faces the Lac de Salanfe
Lac de Salanfe
| lake_name = Lac de Salanfe | image_lake = Lac de Salanfe.jpg | caption_lake = | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Valais | coords = | type = | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = 18.4 km² | basin_countries = Switzerland...
, an artificial reservoir. Geologically it makes up a part of the massif Haut-Giffre.
The seven peaks
The "Dents", or "Teeth" are, from east to west:- La Cime de l'Est (3178 metres, 10,426.51 feet)
- La Forteresse (3164 m, 10,380.58 ft)
- La Cathédrale (3160 m, 10,367.45 ft)
- L'Éperon (3114 m, 10,216.54 ft)
- Dent Jaune (3186 m, 10,452.76 ft)
- Les Doigts (3205 m, 10,515.09 ft and 3210 m, 10,531.50 ft) or Doigts de Salanfe
- La Haute Cime (3257 m, 10,685.70 ft)
Landslide
On the morning of October 30, 2006, a mass of 1,000,000 m³ (35,300,000 ft³) of rocks detached themselves from the side of the Haute Cime and fell down the side to an altitude of about 3,000 m (9,800 ft) The event did not pose any danger for the nearby town of Val-d'IlliezVal-d'Illiez
Val-d'Illiez is a municipality in the district of Monthey in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-Geography:Val-d'Illiez has an area, , of . Of this area, or 38.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 36.7% is forested...
but roads and footpaths were closed as a security measure. According to the geologists of the canton, the landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
was caused by thawing, assisted by the hot summers of the preceding years.
Origin of the name
The name "Dents du Midi" is of relatively recent origin. The native inhabitants originally called them the "Teeth of Tsallen". The present Haute Cime was then called Dent du Midi, and it eventually gave its name to the entire mountain.Each peak, or "tooth", has had several names over the centuries:
- La Cime de l'Est (Summit of the East) was called Mont de Novierre before approximately the seventeenth century, then Mont Saint Michel after the landslides of 1635 and 1636, and finally Dent Noire (Black Tooth) till the 19th century.
- Dent Jaune (The Yellow Tooth) was called the Dent Rouge (Red Tooth) until 1879.
- Les Doigts (The Fingers) were called Le Doigt de Champéry (The Finger of Champéry, 1882) then Le Doigt de Salanfe (The Finger of Salanfe, 1886) before finally just Les Doigts.
- La Haute Cime (The High Summit) also had several names: Dent de l’Ouest (Tooth of the West, 1784), Dent du Midi (Tooth of the South), Dent de Tsallen (Tooth of Tsallen), and Dent de Challent (Tooth of Challent).
L’Éperon
Several ruptures in the massif have changed the form of the peaks so much that the names adapted themselves according to the geological evolution. L’Éperon (The SpurSpur
A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids and to back up the natural aids . The spur is used in every equestrian discipline...
), for example, no longer has two summits, since a landslide in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
significantly changed this peak.
First ascents
| Name of peak | Date of first ascent | Climber(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Cime de l'Est | 16 August 1842 | Nicolaz Delez |
| Forteresse | 7 June 1870 | E. Javelle and J. Oberhauser |
| La Cathédrale | 1890 | Nicolas Delez |
| L'Éperon | ? | ? |
| La Dent Jaune | 24 August 1879 | ? |
| Les Doigts | ? | ? |
| La Haute Cime | 1784 | Jean-Maurice Clément |