Provence Alps and Prealps

The Provence Alps and Prealps (Alpes et Préalpes de Provence in French) are a mountain range in the south-western part of the Alps, located in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (France). Provence Alps and Prealps encompass the south-western area of the French Prealps.

Provence Alps and Prealps
Tête de l'Estrop - south face
Highest point
Peak	Tête de l'Estrop
Elevation	2,961 m (9,715 ft)[1]
Coordinates	44°17′14″N 6°30′17″E
Naming
Native name	Alpes et Préalpes de Provence (French)
Geography
Country	France
Région	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Rivers	Durance, Verdon and Var
Parent range	Alps
Borders on	Maritime Alps, Dauphiné Alps, Dauphiné Prealps and Cottian Alps
Geology
Orogeny	Alpine orogeny
Rock type	Sedimentary rocks[2]

Etymology

The Provence (French pronunciation: [pʁɔvɑ̃s]) is a historical region nowadays part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

Geography

Administratively the range belongs to the French departments of Vaucluse, Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

The western slopes of the range are drained by the Rhone river through the Durance and other tributaries while its south-eastern part is drained by the Var and several smaller rivers that flow directly to the Mediterranean Sea.

Notable summits

The Luberon, in the SW part of the range; view from north-west

Some notable summits of the range are:

Name	metres	feet
Tête de l'Estrop	2,961	9,712
Grande Séolane	2,909	9,542
Trois-Évêchés	2,818	9,243
Montagne du Cheval Blanc	2,323	7,619
Mourre de Chanier	1,930	6,330
Mont Ventoux	1,912	6,271
Montagne de Lure	1,826	5,989

References

1. Highest summit elevation as reported on Géoportail of Institut Géographique National
2. Préalpes, article on Larousse encyclopedia (on line version:www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie)

Maps

• French official cartography (Institut Géographique National - IGN); on-line version: www.geoportail.fr Archived 2007-11-13 at the Wayback Machine