Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi, Alpine aerial tramway in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
The Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi is an aerial cable car that connects Chamonix with the summit station at 3,842 meters elevation and spans 5,420 meters of distance. The ascent uses two separate sections with an intermediate stop at Plan de l'Aiguille station and takes approximately 20 minutes to reach the top.
The system was built in 1954 and held the title of world's highest cable car for two decades. It still maintains the record for the greatest vertical gain in a single aerial lift installation.
The name Aiguille du Midi comes from how the mountain's peak aligns with the sun's position at noon from the village below. This naming reflects how local people used the mountain as a natural clock and landmark.
The experience is best on clear days when you can see the surrounding Alpine peaks clearly. Bring warm clothing as it is significantly colder at the summit than in the valley below.
The signature attraction is the Step into the Void, a walking glass cube that appears to float freely over the mountain slopes below. Visitors can stand 1,035 meters (3,400 feet) above the terrain and look down at the landscape beneath their feet.
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