Let $Φ$ be a finite crystallographic irreducible root system and $\mathcal P_Φ$ be the convex hull of the roots in $Φ$. We give a uniform explicit description of the polytope $\mathcal P_Φ$, analyze the algebraic-combinatorial structure of its faces, and provide connections with the Borel subalgebra of the associated Lie algebra. We also give several enumerative results.

revised version, accepted for publication in IMRN