northern segment of the Western Alps along the French-Italian border, bounded by Mont Cenis (Cenis, Mount) and the Cottian Alps (southwest), the Isère and Arc valleys (west), the Little St. Bernard Pass (north), and the Dora Baltea River valley (northeast). Many of the peaks are glacier-covered and rise to more than 12,000 feet (3,660 m); the highest is Gran Paradiso (13,323 feet). The Savoy Alps (q.v.) are considered northwestern spurs of the range. The main activities of the region are mountain climbing and skiing.