Isolation11.7 km (7.3 mi) Elevation3,553 m Prominence1,144 m Mountain rangeLepontine Alps, Alps
Parent rangeLepontine Alps First ascent1859 Parent peakDammastock
ListingAlpine mountains above 3000 m LocationValais, Switzerland / Piedmont, Italy ProvinceProvince of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola SimilarWasenhorn, Hübschhorn, Breithorn, Fletschhorn, Helsenhorn
Monte leone 17 4 2010 mp4
Monte Leone is the highest mountain of the Lepontine Alps and is located on the border between Switzerland and Italy. The mountain stands on the extreme west of the Lepontine Alps, a few kilometres east of Simplon Pass.
Map of Monte Leone, 28868 Varzo, Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Italy
EtymologyEdit
Leone in Italian means lion, and the mountain's name is said to come from the look of its south face's profile. A different origin of the name could be Munt d'l'Aiun, which in the local dialect means Aiun's mountain; Aione is a nearby village and mount Leone is situated close to meadows traditionally owned by the villagers.
GeographyEdit
In the SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the mountain belongs to an alpine subsection of Lepontine Alps called "North-Western Lepontine Alps" (It:Alpi del Monte Leone e del San Gottardo; De:Monte Leone-Sankt Gotthard-Alpen).