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

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

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

The white crags lit up with pink alpenglow.

From New York Times • Mar. 13, 2023

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

The divine alpenglow flushes the surrounding forest every evening, followed by a crystal night with hosts of lily stars, whose size and brilliancy cannot be conceived by those who have never risen above the lowlands.

From The Mountains of California by Muir, John