Maritime Alps
| Maritime Alps | |
|---|---|
| French: Alpes maritimes | |
|
Maritime Alps | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Monte Argentera |
| Elevation | 3,297 m (10,817 ft) |
| Coordinates | 44°10′45″N 7°18′18″E / 44.17917°N 7.30500°E |
| Geography | |
| Countries | France, Italy and Monaco |
| Region, Région |
Piedmont, Liguria Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
| Range coordinates | 44°14′N 7°11′E / 44.23°N 7.18°ECoordinates: 44°14′N 7°11′E / 44.23°N 7.18°E |
| Parent range | Alps |
| Borders on | Ligurian Alps, Cottian Alps, Provence Alps and Prealps and Mediterranean sea |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Alpine orogeny |
The Maritime Alps are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and the Italian regions of Piedmont and Liguria. They are the southernmost part of the Alps.
Geography
Administratively the range is divided between the Italian provinces of Cuneo and Imperia (eastern slopes) and the French department of Alpes-Maritimes (western slopes).
The Maritime Alps are drained by the rivers Roya, Var and Verdon and their tributaries on the French side; by the Stura di Demonte and other tributaries of the Tanaro and Po on the Italian side. There are many attractive perched villages, such as Belvédère at the entrance to the spectacular Gordolasque valley, some concealing unexpected architectural riches (for example in the south there are numerous churches decorated with murals and altar pieces by primitive Niçois painters).
Borders
The borders of the Maritime Alps are (anticlockwise):
- Vermenagna creek, Col de Tende - which connects them with the Ligurian Alps - and Roya (east);
- Mediterranean sea and Var valley (south)
- Verdon, Col d'Allos - which connects them with Provence Alps and Prealps - and Ubaye (west);
- Colle della Maddalena (which connects them with the Cottian Alps) and Stura di Demonte (north).
Peaks
The main peaks of the Maritime Alps are:
| Name | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monte Argentera | 3,297 m |
| Monte Stella | 3,262 m |
| Cime du Gélas | 3,135 m |
| Cima di Masta | 3,108 m |
| Monte Matto | 3,097 m |
| Mont Pelat | 3,053 m |
| Mont Clapier | 3,046 m |
| Mont Ténibre | 3,032 m |
| Enciastraia | 2,955 m |
| Mont Bégo | 2,872 m |
| Mont Mounier | 2,818 m |
| Roche de l'Abisse | 2,755 m |
Passes
The chief passes of the Maritime Alps are:
| Name | Location | Type | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Col de la Bonette | Tinée Valley to Barcelonnette | Road (minor loop climbs to 2,802 m) | 2715 |
| Col de Restefond | Col de la Bonette to Barcelonnette | Road | 2680 |
| Bassa di Druos | Tinée Valley to Terme di Valdieri | Bridle path | 2630 |
| Colle di Ciriegia | Saint-Martin-Vésubie to Terme di Valdieri | Bridle path | 2551 |
| Col des Granges Communes | Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée to Barcelonnette | Bridle path | 2512 |
| Col de Pourriac | Tinee Valley to Argentera | Foot path | 2506 |
| Colle di Guercia | Tinee Valley to Vinadio | Foot path | 2451 |
| Col de la Lombarde | Isola to Vinadio | Road | 2350 |
| Col de la Cayolle | Var River valley to Barcelonnette | Road | 2327 |
| Col du Sabion | Tende to Valdieri | Bridle path | 2264 |
| Col d'Allos | Verdon River valley to Barcelonnette | Road | 2250 |
| Maddalena Pass | Barcelonnette to Cuneo | Road | 1995 |
| Col de Tende | Tende to Cuneo | Road, road tunnel Railway tunnel | 1873 |
| Col de Turini | Vésubie river valley to Sospel | Road | 1607 |
Nature conservation
The French Mercantour National Park (central area:68,500 ha + peripheral area:140,000 ha [1]) is part of the Maritime Alps as well as the Parco naturale delle Alpi Marittime, an Italian regional nature park of 28,455 ha.[2]
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- ↑ Le Parc national du Mercantour, www.vesubian.com (accessed on April 2012)
- ↑ Parco delle Alpi Marittime, web-site of the park on www.parks.it (accessed on April 2012)
Maps
- Italian official cartography (Istituto Geografico Militare - IGM); on-line version: www.pcn.minambiente.it
- French official cartography (Institut Géographique National - IGN); on-line version: www.geoportail.fr