Col du Lautaret
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| Col du Lautaret | |
|---|---|
 Route Nationale 91 at the Col du Lautaret |
|
| Elevation | 2058 metres |
| Location | Hautes-Alpes, France |
| Range | French Alps |
| Coordinates | |
| Transversed by | Route nationale 91 |
The Col du Lautaret (el. 2058 m.) is a pass in the Hautes-Alpes département of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur région of France. It marks the boundary between the valleys of the Romanche and the Guisane, a tributary of the Durance which has its source at the col. The valleys are linked by national route 91 (Grenoble – Le Bourg-d'Oisans – Briançon). The Lautaret is one of the lowest points on the ridge line which separates the "north" (mainly in the Rhône-Alpes région) and "south" (mainly in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur région) geographic areas of the French Alps.
The Col was modelled by a glacier which flowed down either side into the two valleys, and this explains the relatively easy gradient of the slopes by which it is attained. For the latter reason, the Col has long been used as a communication route between Grenoble and Briançon, and indeed for reaching Italy across the Alps.
The Col is open all year round, and provides good views of La Meije to the south-west and the Grand Galibier to the north. It is also well-known for its botanical garden, and for its use in the Tour de France. The route to the south side of the Col du Galibier leaves from the Lautaret.
[edit] References
- Much of the content of this article comes from the equivalent French-language Wikipedia article.
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