Verdon Canyon (Cote d'Azur)
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Verdon Canyon (Cote d'Azur)
The Verdon Canyon (French: Gorges du Verdon or Grand canyon du Verdon) is located in southeastern France in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region. This river canyon is considered one of the most beautiful canyons in Europe. It is 25 kilometers long and up to 700 meters deep. The canyon is formed by the Verdon River, which is named after the unusual, turquoise-green color of its water. The most impressive part of the canyon is located between the towns of Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, where the river cuts a ravine up to 700 meters deep through the limestone mountain range. At the end of the canyon, the Verdon River flows into the artificial lake Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon (French: Lac de Sainte-Croix).
Due to its proximity to the French Riviera, the gorge is very popular with tourists who can go rafting, canoeing, renting kayaks, floating down the river or hiking. The limestone walls, several hundred meters high, attract many rock climbers. It is one of the most outstanding places for multi-level alpinism.
History of education (Cote d'Azur)
During the Triassic period, the French region of Provence was submerged and covered by the sea, leaving behind thick layers of various limestone deposits. A few million years later, with the onset of the Jurassic period, the area was covered by a warm, shallow sea, allowing the growth of various corals. During the Cretaceous period, the Bas-Provence region was uplifted and the sea reached the current location of the Alps, which were built during the Tertiary period. As a result of large-scale geological activity, many of the Jurassic limestone deposits were eroded, creating a relief with valleys and other similar features. The origins of the Gorges du Verdon can be traced back to this era.
At the beginning of the Quaternary, large-scale glaciation occurred, transforming water pockets and lakes into unstoppable ice rivers that reconstructed the terrain, clearing and striped landscapes. At the end of this activity, river erosion continued, forming a gorge as today. The Verdon riverbed was cleared for the second time of accumulated coral and limestone deposits, with the water supply rate approaching 2,000–3,000 cubic meters per second.
Geography (Cote d'Azur)
The source of the Verdon is located near the Col d'Allos hill in the Trois Eves mountain range, from where it continues and flows into the Durance river near Vinon-sur-Verdon, after a journey of 175 kilometers. Between Castellane and the Pont du Galetas, the river flows through Lake Sainte-Croix, created by the construction of the dam of the same name. Before the dam was built, the village of Les Salles-sur-Verdon occupied the river plain. To create the dam and reservoir, the government forced the village to evacuate, razing and demolishing the church and other structures before flooding the area in 1973. Les Salles-sur-Verdon has been reconstructed as a more modern village in the valley. Today it is the youngest village in France.
At some distance, the Verdon Gorge forms the border between the departments of Var to the south and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to the north in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
This region between Castellane and Lac de Sainte-Croix is called the Gorges du Verdon, or Verdon Gorge. It is divided into three distinct parts:
The "prégorges" ("pre-gorge") from Castellane to Pont de Soleil, the deepest part of the gorge, from Pont de Soleil to Imbut, and the Canyon from Imbut to Pont de Galette. The Verdon Gorge is narrow and deep, from 250 to 700 meters deep and 6 to 100 meters wide at the level of the Verdon River. The width is from 200 to 1,500 meters from one side of the gorge to the other at the summits.
Tourism (Cote d'Azur)
The Verdon Gorge is known as one of the most beautiful canyons in Europe and attracts many tourists, especially in the summer. The river's bright turquoise color is associated with glacial springs and rock flour minerals suspended in the water.
It is easily accessible on the right bank from the north (via the D952 route from Castellane to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie) and on the left bank from the south (via the D71, D90 and D955 routes from Eguin to Castellane).
The southern route offers views of the Col d'Iloire, the peaks of Plaine Voire, Pavillon (1,624 m), Barby (1,560 m) and Mourre de Chanier (1,930 m) and the Sainte-Croix reservoir. The "Sentier de l'Imbut" hike begins on this side of the gorge. Where the road passes through the Tunnel du Fay, holes have been cut into the tunnel to allow hikers to see out. The road crosses the Artuby River on a bridge known as the Pont de l'Artuby or Pont de Chaulière; shortly after, in the relay of the Balcony, the Artuby flows into the Verdon. This area is also known as the Mesca, meaning "mixture" in the Provençal dialect.
Chaulière Bridge (French Riviera)
The D90 towards Trigance passes over a bridge over the river Jabron (another tributary of the Verdon) and the Pont des Soleils. Just below Rougon is the Samson Corridor, the entrance to a part of the river landscape designated as a "gorge". From there you can walk along the Verdon and take the famous "Sentier Martel". La Palud-sur-Verdon, a village with a museum and a tourist office, is nearby; the "Crest Route" (linking various panoramic viewpoints) starts from here. From this route you can also reach Martel Sentier, starting from the French Alpine Club or the "chalet de la Maline". This route covers more than 100 km of not always easy routes.
Sports (Cote d'Azur)
The Verdon Gorge attracts many climbers with over 1,500 climbing routes on fine limestone rock. The Verdon and its gorge are also a favourite spot for fishermen, especially for fly fishing. Hiking, canoeing, paragliding, rafting, rock climbing and canyoning are some of the many sports practised in the region.