What or who is the Ravine of Arve in the poem, Mont Blanc?

The Ravine of Arve is both a location and a character in the poem. The ravine, referring to the river valley, is addressed directly in the verse: “Thus thou, Ravine of Arve—dark, deep Ravine— / Thou many-colour'd, many-voiced vale” (12-13). The ravine is deep and disconsolate in character. It embodies a mysterious energy, of which the speaker cannot discern the origin. The ravine is presented to the reader as kind of temperamental portal, offering a glimpse into something otherworldly and mysterious.