Dom (mountain)
The Dom is a mountain of the Pennine Alps, located between Randa and Saas-Fee in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. With a height of 4,545 m (14,911 ft), it is the seventh highest summit in the Alps, overall. Based on prominence, it can be regarded as the third highest mountain in the Alps, and the second highest in Switzerland, after Monte Rosa. The Dom is the main summit of the Mischabel group (German: Mischabelhörner), which is the highest massif lying entirely in Switzerland.
| Dom | |
|---|---|
The north side of the Dom and the Mischabel massif | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,545 m (14,911 ft) |
| Prominence | 1055 m ↓ Neues Weisstor |
| Parent peak | Monte Rosa |
| Isolation | 16.8 km → Nordend |
| Listing |
|
| Coordinates | 46°05′42″N 7°51′36″E |
| Geography | |
Dom Location in Switzerland | |
| Location | Valais, Switzerland |
| Parent range | Pennine Alps |
| Topo map | Swisstopo 1328 Randa |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1858 by John Llewelyn Davies guided by Johann Zumtaugwald, Johann Krönig and Hieronymous Brantschen |
| Easiest route | North flank (PD) |
The Dom is noteworthy for its 'normal route' of ascent having the greatest vertical height gain of all the alpine 4000 metre peaks, and none of that route's 3,100 metres of height can be achieved using mechanical means.: 114
Although Dom is a German cognate for 'dome', it can also mean 'cathedral' and the mountain is named after Canon Berchtold of Sitten cathedral, the first person to survey the vicinity.
The former name Mischabel comes from an ancient German dialect term for pitchfork, as the highest peaks of the massif stand close to each other.