Pont d'Arc

Coordinates: 44°22′55″N 4°25′00″E / 44.38194°N 4.41667°E / 44.38194; 4.41667
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ardèchetours (talk | contribs) at 15:49, 25 June 2018 (→‎See also). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Pont d'Arc

The Pont d'Arc (French pont = bridge) is a large natural bridge, located in the Ardèche département in the south of France, 5 km from the town of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc.[1]

The arch, formed when the Ardèche River broke through a narrow escarpment between its meander, is 59 metres (194 ft) wide and 34 m (112 ft) high at the top of the opening.[2] It is a very popular canoeing and kayaking area and is heavily visited by tourists. It is usually described as the natural entrance to the Ardèche Canyon.[2]

In the near vicinity of the arch is the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave, containing one of the earliest known Paleolithic cave paintings, about 30,000 years old (featured in the 3D documentary Cave of Forgotten Dreams by film director Werner Herzog).

References

  1. ^ Duckeck, Jochen. "Caves of France: Pont d'Arc". www.showcaves.com. Retrieved 2017-07-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  2. ^ a b Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. p. 299. ISBN 0-89577-087-3.

See also

* tourist guide and holiday rentals in Vallon Pont d'Arc

44°22′55″N 4°25′00″E / 44.38194°N 4.41667°E / 44.38194; 4.41667