{{short description|Mountain in Switzerland}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Monte Leone | image = MonteLeone0001.jpg | image_size = 285 | image_caption = Monte Leone seen from Simplon pass, August 2006 | elevation_m = 3553 | elevation_ref = | prominence_m = 1144 | prominence_ref = <ref>Retrieved from the Swisstopo topographic maps. The key col is the Albrun Pass (2,409 m)</ref> | isolation_km = 11.7 | isolation_ref = <ref>Retrieved from Google Earth. The nearest point of higher elevation is east of the Senggchuppa.</ref> | parent_peak = Dammastock | listing = Alpine mountains above 3000 m | map = Alps | map_caption = Location in the Alps | location = Valais, Switzerland / Piedmont, Italy | range = Lepontine Alps | coordinates = {{coord|46|14|59|N|8|06|37|E|type:mountain_region:CH-TI_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | range_coordinates = | type = | age = | first_ascent = July 1859, by an unnamed Swiss officer <ref>[http://www.schweizerseiten.ch/info/info_monteleone.htm First ascent data at schweizerseiten.ch] and as indicated in the Swiss Alpine Club guide</ref> | easiest_route = }}
'''Monte Leone''' is the highest mountain of the Lepontine Alps and is located on the border between Switzerland and Italy. The mountain stands on the extreme west of the Lepontine Alps, a few kilometres east of Simplon Pass.
== Etymology == ''Leone'' in Italian means ''lion'', and the mountain's name is said to come from the look of its south face's profile. A different origin of the name could be ''Munt d'l'Aiun'', which in the local dialect means ''Aiun's mountain''; Aione is a nearby village and Mount Leone is situated close to meadows traditionally owned by the villagers.
== Geography == In the SOIUSA (''International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps'') the mountain belongs to an alpine subsection of the Lepontine Alps called ''"North-Western Lepontine Alps"'' (It:''Alpi del Monte Leone e del San Gottardo''; De:''Monte Leone-Sankt Gotthard-Alpen'').<ref>{{cite book | last = Marazzi | first = Sergio | author-link = | title = Atlante Orografico delle Alpi. SOIUSA | publisher = Priuli & Verlucca | series = | year = 2005 | language = Italian | page = 137 | doi = | isbn = 978-88-8068-273-8 }}</ref>
==See also== *List of mountains of Valais *List of mountains of Switzerland *List of most isolated mountains of Switzerland
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=152702 Monte Leone on Summitpost]
{{Commons category|Monte Leone}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Leone}} Category:Mountains of the Alps Category:Alpine three-thousanders Category:Mountains of Switzerland Category:Mountains of Piedmont Category:Italy–Switzerland border Category:International mountains of Europe Category:Mountains of Valais Category:Lepontine Alps
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