The Digne Prealps (French: Préalpes de Digne) are a massif in the southern part of the French Prealps located in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

Digne Prealps
The snowy Prealps behind the commune of Digne-les-Bains
Highest point
Elevation2,115 m (6,939 ft)
Parent peakLes Monges
Naming
Native namePréalpes de Digne (French)
Geography
Map
Country France
DepartmentAlpes-de-Haute-Provence
RegionProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Parent rangeProvence Prealps

Geography

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The Digne Prealps in the middle of the Provence Alps and Prealps section (as per SOIUSA)

Location

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The massif extends around Digne-les-Bains, between the Durance river and Serre-Ponçon lake to the north, and the Verdon gorge to the south.[1] It is bordered by the communes of Sisteron, Gréoux-les-Bains and Castellane.

It is surrounded to the northwest by the Bochaine, to the northeast by Massif des Trois-Évêchés, to the south-east by the Castellane Prealps and finally to the west by the Vaucluse mountains and the Baronnies Massif.

Main summits

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  • Les Monges, 2,115 m,
  • Clot Ginoux (or Les Cimettes), 2,112 m
  • l'Oratoire, 2,071 m
  • Tête Grosse, 2,032 m
  • Laupie (ou Tourtoureau), 2,025 m
  • Clos de Bouc, 1,962 m
  • Montagne de Chine, 1,952 m
  • Mourre de Chanier, 1,930 m
  • Marzenc, 1,930 m
  • Sommet de Nibles, 1,909 m
  • Mont Chiran, 1,905 m
  • Grande Cloche de Barles, 1,887 m
  • Montagne de Jouere, 1,886 m
  • Chanau, 1,885 m
  • Géruen Ridge, 1,880 m
  • Grande Gautiere, 1,825 m

Geology

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These ranges are identified by geologists by the Digne nappes, on the edge of the Trois-Évêchés massif, extending to Gap,[2] whose characteristic outcrops are gypsum. It gradually leads to the Provençal limestone domain, towards the west and south, particularly towards the Valensole plateau.

References

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  1. ^ Douguedroit, Annick (1976-01-01). Les paysages forestiers de Haute-Provence et des Alpes-Maritimes: Géographie, écologie, histoire (in French). FeniXX. p. 125. ISBN 978-2-7449-1870-4.
  2. ^ Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des sciences: Sciences naturelles (in French). Ganthier-Villars. 1979. p. 47.