Belledonne
Belledonne (French: La chaine de Belledonne) is a mountain range in the Dauphiné Alps (part of the French Alps) in southeast France. The southern end of the range forms the eastern wall of the mountains that surround the city of Grenoble.
The range is noted for the spectacular scenery it provides the inhabitants of Grenoble, numerous ski areas, interesting geology, and a diverse range of alpine land types and uses.
Geography
The range is approximately 60 km long by between 10 km wide and runs from roughly 45°03′N 5°48′E / 45.050°N 5.800°E, 16 km south-south-east of the city of Grenoble, in a north-easterly direction (actually 35 degrees) for 65 km to roughly 45°33′N 6°17′E / 45.550°N 6.283°E, near the town of Aiguebelle. The highest point is the Grand Pic de Belledonne, 2977 m./9767 ft.
The range is delineated by several valleys which lie at relatively low altitude, including the Grèsivaudan (which carries the Isère River) on the west, Arc to the north and the Romanche to the south.
The range contains at least 16 peaks over 2,500 metres, 10 glaciers, and 26 alpine lakes, the highest of which is over 2,400 metres above sea level.
Geologically, the range is effectively a concatenation of ranges which are not physically separated. These ranges (French: massifs) are, from north to south: the Grand Arc, the Lauzière, the Sept-Laux, Belledonne proper, and the Taillefer [1]
A significant feature is the Belledonne Balcony (French: Le Balcon de Belledonne), which is a terrace or plateau some 30 km long on the western side of the range that provides a relatively level area intersected by narrow ravines eroded by rivers taking runoff from the snow levels higher up. The Balcony has supported diverse livestock-raising and other agricultural activity for a considerable period of time.
Principal summits
- Le Grand Pic de Belledonne, 2977 m. (highest point in the range)
- La Croix de Belledonne, 2929 m.
- Le Rocher Blanc, 2927 m.
- Les Aiguilles de l'Argentière, 2915 m.
- Le Rocher Badon, 2912 m.
- La Pyramide, 2912 m.
- Le Puy Gris, 2908 m.
- Le Bec d'Arguille, 2891 m.
- L'Aiguille d'Olle, 2885 m.
- Le Rocher d'Arguille, 2885 m.
- La Pointe de Comberousse, 2866 m.
- La Grande Lance d'Allemond, 2842 m.
- Le Charmet de l'Aiguille, 2826 m.
- La Pointe de la Porte d'Eglise, 2812 m.
- Le Pic du Frêne, 2807 m.
- Le Pic du Grand Doménon, 2802 m.
- Le Grand Morétan, 2800 m.
- La Grande Lance de Domène, 2790 m.
- Le Grand Charnier d'Allemont, 2777 m.
- Le Pic Couttet, 2764 m.
- Le Grand Crozet, 2762 m.
- Le Pic de la Grande Valloire, 2758 m.
- La Selle du Puy Gris, 2758 m.
- Le Rocher de l'Homme, 2755 m.
- Roche Rousse, 2753 m.
- Le Pic Lamartine, 2752 m.
- La Grande Lauzière, 2741 m.
Principal glaciers
- Glacier de la Sitre
- Glacier de Freydane (seul véritable glacier crevassé)
- Glacier de l'Amiante
- Glacier du Rocher Blanc
- Glacier de la Combe Madame
- Glacier de l'Argentière
- Glacier d'Arguille
- Glacier du Puy Gris
- Glacier du Gleyzin
- Glacier de Claran
Principal passes
- Col de la Pra, 2171 m.
- Col de Belledonne, 2785 m.
- Col de Freydanne, 2645 m.
- Col de la Mine de Fer, 2400 m.
- Brèche de Roche Fendue, 2482 m.
- Pas de la Coche, 1989 m.
- Col des Sept Laux, 2184 m.
- Col de la Croix, 2529 m.
- Col du Tepey, 2716 m.
- Col de la Valloire, 2751 m.
- Col du Merlet, 2286 m.
- Col de la Bourbière, 2352 m.
- Col de la Frèche, 2183 m.
- Col de la Perrière, 2003 m.
- Col de la Perche, 1984 m.
- Col de Roche Noire, 2629 m.
- Col de la Balmette, 2667 m.
Principal lakes
- Lac Achard, 1917 m.
- Lac Robert, 1998 m.
- Lac Longet, 2027 m.
- Lac Merlat, 2044 m.
- Lac du Crozet, 1974 m.
- Lac du Petit Doménon, 2380 m.
- Lac du Grand Doménon, 2385 m.
- Lac de la Sitre, 1952 m.
- Lac de Belledonne, 2163 m.
- Lac Blanc, 2161 m.
- Lac de Crop, 1906 m.
- Sept Laux
- Lac de la Sagne, 2065 m.
- Lac de la Corne, 2083 m.
- Lac Jeplan, 2144 m.
- Lac de l'Agnelin, 2327 m.
- Lac du Cos, 2182 m.
- Lac Blanc, 2248 m.
- Lac Cottepens, 2128 m.
- Lac Carré, 2128 m.
- Lac de la Motte, 2128 m.
- Lac Noir, 2091 m.
- Lac de la Croix, 2415 m.
- Lac de la Folle, 2142 m.
- Lac Blanc, 2124 m.
- Lac Noir, 2268 m.
- Lac des Balmettes, 2196 m.
Origin of the name
The origin of the name is not clear. The phrase belle donne means beautiful women in Italian. It does not appear to mean that in Occitan, and since Occitan is the ancient regional language, would have been a more likely source of ancient names than Italian. Nevertheless, from one angle the highest peak, the Grand Pic du Belledonne allegedly looks like a woman holding a baby. Other suggested derivations are from the celtic donne meaning valley, hence beautiful valleys, or indo-european bal, meaning elevated rock, which evolved into bel, then belle. It is difficult without evidence to determine the validity of these derivations.
Fauna
The mountains are home to marmots, chamois and ibex mountain goats and grouse. Reportedly, wolves have returned since 1998.
References
The Alps Geology site [1] is an excellent source for geological information on the Belledonne Range and on all of the French Alps.
- ^ a b "Chaîne de Belledonne (au sens large) Structure hercynienne et constitution du socle". Géologie et paysages dans les Alpes françaises (in French). Maurice Gidon, professeur de géologie à l'Université scientifique et médicale de Grenoble. Retrieved 2006-08-07.
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