The Alps are a relatively young mountain range compared to many other mountain ranges on Earth. They were formed as a result of the collision between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, which began around 30 million years ago. The main phase of mountain building occurred between 10 and 15 million years ago, and the Alps continued to rise until about 2 million years ago. The Alps are still actively rising today, albeit at a much slower rate than in the past.