The name “Aiguille du Midi” translates literally as “Needle of the Noon” or “Needle of the South”. It gets its name from its tapered form and from its position when viewed from Chamonix: it approximately indicates noon when the sun passes over its summit.

Shakira poses with French Culture Minister, Frederic Mitterrand after being honored at Hotel Majestic on January 28, 2012 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Actress Arta Dobroshi poses at the “Trois Mondes” photocall during the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 25, 2012 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker)

A runner tries to get the attention of a bull, named Santon, during the “Toro de Cuerda” (Bull on Rope) festival at Plaza de Espana square in Grazalema, southern Spain, July 18, 2016. Three bulls restrained by a rope are allowed to run through the streets of the village during the annual festival. (Photo by Jon Nazca/Reuters)

In this Tuesday, March 17, 2015 photo, a French military plane takes off from the flight deck of the French Navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Persian Gulf. Aircraft aboard the French carrier are flying bombing and reconnaissance missions as part of a U.S.-led coalition targeting Islamic State militants in Iraq. (Photo by Hasan Jamali/AP Photo)

View of Evolutions installation by artist Yann Nguema at the Saint-Jean Cathedral during the rehearsal for the Festival of Lights (Fetes des Lumieres) in Central Lyon, France, late December 7, 2016. (Photo by Emmanuel Foudrot/Reuters)

Cycling jerseys, part of a collection belonging to French cycling fan Gerald, hang from a line during the 4th stage of the Tour de France cycling race from Seraing in Belgium to Cambrai in France, July 7, 2015. Photographing the Tour de France cycling race comes with highs and lows: the buzz from capturing just the right image, the tedium of long journeys, the painstaking set-up of equipment, the breath-taking scenery. Reuters photographers have worked not only to capture the thrills and spills on the roads and mountain passes. They have also shot a set of pictures showing their own quirky view from behind the scenes as they travelled through the Netherlands, Belgium and France. (Photo by Eric Gaillard/Reuters)

The Porsche 919 Hybrid No17 of the Porsche Team driven by Timo Bernhard of Germany is seen in action during the 83rd 24-hour Le Mans endurance race, in Le Mans, western France, Saturday, June 13, 2015. (AP Photo/David Vincent)