Adventure in the AlpsDate Posted: 07/12/2012 | Posted In: Latest news
Students studying A level Geology at QE have just returned from a week long fieldtrip to the European Alps.
Ed Anderson, QE’s newly appointed Head of Geology led the trip.
‘Based in Chamonix, the students enjoyed the opportunity to study the geology of one of the world’s great glaciated fold mountain belts. The Alps were created by the collision of the European and African continental plates 8-30 million years ago and are the highest mountains in Western Europe. Their study is an integral part of the A Level geology course and several questions in the examinations require students to discuss aspects of the geology, evolution and glaciation of mountain ranges. The highlights of the trip included trekking 1000 metres up to the famous icefall on Glacier d’ Argentiere, travelling on the Brevent cable car to enjoy stunning views of the Mont Blanc massif and journeying through the Mont Blanc tunnel to visit the Italian side of the Alps.The trip not only provided a valuable learning opportunity to study mountain belts at first hand but it was also great fun and created many lifelong memories.’
Next year’s trip to the Alps is currently being planned.