alpine zone A region that occurs above the baumgrenze and below the snow line on temperate and tropical mountains. The vegetation is characterized by an absence of trees and varies greatly with aspect, the greatest contrasts being between the wet side and the dry, leeward side of the mountains concerned. The elevation of the lower limit of the zone increases from about 1000 m above sea level in Scotland to over 2000 m in the Swiss Alps, and to 3700 m in the western Himalaya.

alpine zone A region that occurs above the tree-line and below the snow-line on temperate and tropical mountains. The vegetation is characterized by an absence of trees, and varies greatly with aspect, the greatest contrasts being between the wet side and the dry, leeward side of the mountains concerned. The elevation of the lower limit of the zone increases from about 1000 m above sea level in Scotland to over 2000 m in the Swiss Alps, and to 3700 m in the western Himalaya.