Читать книгу Tour of the Queyras. The GR58 and GR541 in the French Alps онлайн

9 страница из 48

Within France the Alps can be divided into three main regions – the Savoie (Savoy), Dauphine and Provençal Alps. The mountains are to be found within seven départements, namely Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Isère, Drôme, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes (see ssss1). Of these the Isère and the Drôme contain mainly the lower massifs, or Pre-Alpes.

Possibly the most impressive region of the Pre-Alpes is the Vercours, west of Grenoble, now a regional park. The Chablais Alps south of Geneva, bordering onto Switzerland, are rich in lush, green, Alpine pasture. This area leads to the major summits of the northern French Alps, culminating in Mont Blanc, at 4807m (15,759ft) the highest peak in Western Europe. Here also are the other great mountains of the French Alps: Grandes Jorasses (4208m/13,795ft) Aiguille du Midi (3842m/12,595ft) and Aiguille Verte (4122m/13,513ft).

South of Chamonix and the Mont Blanc region is the Vanoise, a national park. Here there are many glaciers and high peaks, including the well-known La Grande Casse (3855m/12,638ft). Southwest of the Vanoise is another national park, the Écrins (Parc National des Écrins). The major summits of the Écrins, La Meije (3982m/13,054ft), Mont Pelvoux (3946m/12,936ft) and the Barre des Écrins (4102m/13,447ft), are all seen to advantage on the Tour of the Queyras.