Massif des Trois-Évêchés | |
Elevation M: | 2961 |
Highest: | Tête de l'Estrop |
Range: | Provence Alps and Prealps |
Country: | France |
Region: | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
Region Type: | Region |
District: | Alpes-de-Haute-Provence |
District Type: | Departement |
Range Coordinates: | 44.2833°N 38°W |
Geology: | Sedimentary rock |
Massif des Trois-Évêchés (Occitan (post 1500);: Massís dei Tres Eveschats, literally the massif of the Three Bishoprics) is a mountain range in the Provence Alps and Prealps in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France. Its name comes from the central summit of the massif, the Pic des Trois-Évêchés (so named because it marked the boundary between the dioceses of Digne, Embrun and Senez) where there are ridges to the north, west and south. The highest peak is the Tête de l'Estrop, at 2961m (9,715feet).
The massif in the broadest sense extends from north to south between the Bes to the west, the Ubaye in the north, the Verdon to the east and the Asse (approximately) to the south. It is also crossed by the Bléone and the Vallon du Laverq.
It is surrounded to the north by the Massif du Parpaillon, east by the Massif du Pelat, south-east by the Préalpes de Castellane and finally to the south and to the west by the Préalpes de Digne (which some southern peaks, or even the whole massif, are sometimes attached, although significantly higher altitudes, and different orientation).
The Montagne de Cordœil, of a more modest size and elevation [{{convert|2114|m}}], is completely isolated from the rest of the massif, the Verdon to the east and the Issole to the north and west.
The massif of the Trois-Évêchés consists of sedimentary rock, mostly sandstones and marls, typical of the pre-Alps. The geological nature of the north of the massif relates to the Ubaye Valley.
On 24 March 2015, Andreas Lubitz, co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525, who was reported to have had mental health problems, deliberately crashed the plane into the massif, after he locked the Captain out of the cockpit.[1] [2]
The massif contains, amongst others, two canyoning descents of high and exceptional level: Male Vasudevan and Bussing.