ABSTRACT
It may appear that there are few climatological or biogeographical reasons for linking polar and alpine areas together, as the processes producing their respective climates and vegetation differ. In alpine regions, temperatures decrease with height, so that even in equatorial regions such as Kenya glaciers can survive because of the high altitude and low temperatures. This chapter examines the nature of their climates first before moving on to other environmental features. The Alpine landsystem develops its distinctive character through the integration of glacial, cryonival, slope and fluvial elements within the higher and spatially more restricted parts of the mountain systems. Land-based tourism has potentially the greatest impact on the polar environment, owing to the need for a full range of support facilities for transport, accommodation and the usual range of tourist attractions. Tourism in mountains has a long history and attracts more and more visitors each year.
