Mount Viso

Monte Viso
Monviso seen from the Col de Chamoussiere (FR).
Highest point
Elevation	3,841 m (12,602 ft)
Prominence	2,062 m (6,765 ft)  Ranked 10th in the Alps
Isolation	60.4 kilometres (37.5 mi)
Listing	Ultra
Coordinates	44°40′03″N 07°05′30″E / 44.66750°N 7.09167°E / 44.66750; 7.09167Coordinates: 44°40′03″N 07°05′30″E / 44.66750°N 7.09167°E / 44.66750; 7.09167
Geography
Monte Viso Alps
Location	Piedmont, Italy
Parent range	Cottian Alps
Climbing
First ascent	August 30, 1861 by William Mathews and Frederic Jacomb with guide Michel Croz
Easiest route	South Face scramble

Monte Viso or Monviso (Italian pronunciation: [momˈviːzo]; Occitan: Vísol; Piedmontese: Brich Monviso or Viso), is the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps. It is located in Italy close to the French border. Monte Viso is well known for its pyramid-like shape and, because it is higher than all its neighbouring peaks by about 500 m, it can be seen from great distance, including from the Piedmontese plateau, the Langhe, the Theodulpass in the Zermatt ski area and the summits of the Mont Blanc massif. On a very clear day it can be seen from the spires of the Milan Cathedral. It has been suggested that Monte Viso could be one of the mountains which inspired the Paramount logo. In Italy is also known as Il Re di Pietra (The Stone King) because of his prominence within western Italian Alps landscape. From 29 May 2013, it has become UNESCO's heritage as a cross-border biosphere reserve with France.

On the northern slopes of Monte Viso are the headwaters of the Po, the longest Italian river, the so-called Pian del Re (2,020 m). The Monviso group is surrounded by the Valle Po, Valle Varaita and, on the French side, the Guil valley. The northern sector of the group, from the Punta Gastaldi to the Col de la Traversette, is located on the French border.

According to the SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the mountain can be classified in the following way:

Monte Viso is the location of a neolithic jadeite quarry, at an elevation of 2000 to 2400 metres. Its productivity peaked around 5000 BC. The jadeite was used to make cult axes, which are found all over western Europe.