Aiguille du Midi
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| Aiguille du Midi | |
|---|---|
 North face in winter |
|
| Elevation | 3842 m./12,605 ft. |
| Location |  France |
| Range | Mont Blanc |
| Coordinates | |
| Type | Granite |
| First ascent | August 4, 1818 by A. Malczewski, J.M. Balmat and 5 guides |
| Translation | Needle of the South (French) |
Aiguille du Midi (el. 3842 m./12,605 ft.) is a rocky outcrop in the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps.
The cable car to the summit, Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi, was built in 1955 and held the title of the world's highest cable car for about two decades. In a spectacular ascent it travels from Chamonix to the top of the Aiguille du Midi over 2800 m. altitude gain in just 20 minutes.
The Aiguille summit now contains a panoramic viewing platform, a cafe and a gift shop. The popular Vallée Blanche ski run begins here, and the nearby Cosmiques Refuge is the starting point for one of the routes to the Mont Blanc summit. From the Aiguille another cable car crosses the Glacier de Geant to Point Helbronner (3452m) at the Italian side of the Mont Blanc Massif. Point Helbronner is served with a cable car from Entrevés, a village near Courmayeur in the Aosta Valley (Italy).
 Aiguille du Midi |
 Mont Blanc and part of the Aiguille |
 Descending the Aiguille du Midi Téléphérique into Chamonix |
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