How were the Alps formed?

The Alps form part of a line of mountain chains, called the Alpide Belt. This goes through Southern Europe and Asia and all the way to the Himalayas. The Alps were formed when the African and the Eurasian Plates collided, folded and then buckled.
The Alps are fold mountains formed millions of years ago and over an equally long period of time by the collision of the Eurasian and African plates. The Alps today are found in Europe including the countries of Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, France and Germany. The highest peak in the Alps is Mont Blanc, 4,808 meters high.

The formation was a result of tectonic forces that caused the plates to shift their positions. These plates are still moving today, but at very slow speeds, around a millimeter a year. These geological forces rended Central Europe apart two hundred and fifty million years ago. The initial movement towards east and west came to an end, and the softening of the European crust allowed Africa to thrust northwards.

The continents that are present today existed millions of years ago in a single cluster or supercontinent.