Gorges de l'Ardèche explained

Gorges de l'Ardèche
Translation:Gorges on River Ardèche
Map:France Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes#France Occitanie#France
Location:France
Country:France
Region:Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie
State:Gard and Ardèche
Relief:yes
Label Position:top
Length Km:30

The Gorges de l'Ardèche is made up of a series of gorges in the river and locally known as the "European Grand Canyon", Located in the Ardèche, in the French department Ardèche, forming a thirty-kilometre long canyon running from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc to Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche. The lower part of the gorge forms the boundary between the Ardèche department and the Gard department. The canyon is a tourist attraction, drawing over a million visitors per year, in addition to a rich historical and archeological site.

Most of the canyon is protected; it is governed by the Réserve Naturelle Gorges de l'Ardèche. Notable sights along the canyon include the Pont d'Arc at the beginning of the canyon, a natural arch 60 m wide and 54 m high. Much of the canyon is inaccessible except by water, and canoeing and kayaking are popular sports on the river. Overnight camping is not allowed, except for at two bivouac shelters.[1]

The cliffs offer habitat to rare birds such as the Bonelli's eagle.[2] (there were only two pairs in the Ardèche, and no more than thirty in all of France.[3])

Humans have lived in caves in the area for over 300,000 years. Over 2,000 caves are found in the gorge, some of them painted; the best-known painted cave in the gorge is the Chauvet Cave.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Holden. Andrew. Fennell. David A.. The Routledge Handbook of Tourism and the Environment. 5 July 2013. 2012. Routledge. 978-1-136-32555-7. 378.
  2. Book: Automobile Association of Britain. Journey Through France. 5 July 2013. 2000. W W Norton & Company. 978-0-393-32067-1. 106–107.
  3. News: Meilhac. David. Un aigle de Bonelli, une espèce protégée, abattu dans les Gorges de l'Ardèche. 6 July 2013. France Bleu, Drôme Ardèche. 7 June 2013.