alpenglow

American  

[al-puhn-gloh] / ˈæl pənˌgloʊ /

noun

1. a reddish glow often seen on the summits of mountains just before sunrise or just after sunset.

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alpenglow British  

/ ˈælpənˌɡləʊ /

noun

1. a reddish light on the summits of snow-covered mountain peaks at sunset or sunrise

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Etymology

Origin of alpenglow

1870–75; < German Alpenglühen, with glow replacing German glühen

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Explanation

Alpenglow is the reddish light you can sometimes see on the tops of mountains, especially snow-covered mountains, just before the sun rises or right after it sets. Alpenglow is a phenomenon that's unique to the mountains. When the sun is below the visible horizon, tall mountains can still catch the sun's rays. Just before sunrise and after sunset, longer-wavelength red and orange sunlight reflects down onto the mountain peaks from particles high up in the atmosphere, creating a warm glow. The word alpenglow comes from the German Alpenglühen, which literally means "Alps-glow." The Alps are an often snow-capped mountain range in central Europe; the highly reflective snow intensifies the alpenglow.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alpenglow

Kicking back to watch purplish and pink sunset colors arc over the sky while the last gasps of alpenglow fade from Mount Adams felt like a classic Northwest rural tableau.

From Seattle Times ● May 18, 2024

Colorado’s natural beauty — groves of aspen shimmering in fall, snowcapped 14,000-foot peaks bathed in alpenglow — has much to lure outdoor enthusiasts, from college-age tubers to private jet owners.

From New York Times ● Sep. 1, 2022

As the afternoon turned into evening, the pale peaks and domes soaked up the colours of the setting sun: vivid yellow, fiery orange and, finally, a lingering band of ember-red alpenglow.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 19, 2019

Between sunset and sunrise, the alpenglow spans midnight and lasts for hours.

From The New Yorker ● Nov. 9, 2015

We left the enchanting valley that morning, the trills of the white-crowns ringing in the alpenglow like a sad farewell, as if they felt that we should never meet again.

From Birds of the Rockies by Leander S. (Leander Sylvester) Keyser

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