Aiguilles Rouges National Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
The Aiguilles Rouges National Nature Reserve is a nature reserve
located in the Aiguilles Rouges
mountain range in the Haute-Savoie department
in southeastern France
.
. In 1968, the Aiguilles Rouges mountain range became a game reserve
. At the insistence of Jean Eyherald, the priest
of Argentière, and a geologist
, Yvonne Gubler, an observation site for the Alps was installed above Argentière. Accessible via chairlift
, it became difficult to access following an accident. A site at the Col des Montets
mountain pass was chosen, In 1971 with the support of mountaineer
Maurice Herzog
, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc and Vallorcine
created the la réserve intercommunale du col des Montets (Intercommunal reserve of the Col des Montets). The reserve was created by ministerial decree
on . It covers 3279 hectares (8,102.6 acre) in the communes of Chamonix
and Vallorcine
. The nature reserve is managed by the ASTERS association, which is responsible for all the nature reserves in Haute-Savoie.
Since 2006 the reserve has been under consideration for either declassification or reclassification, because of contention over a private landowner not being covered under the constitution in 1974. A public inquiry regarding the reclassification began in 2008 and is currently in progress.
The nature reserve is adjacent to two others:
In the reserve one can find typical mountainous plant and animal species, such as Alpine Ibex
, Chamois
, Rock Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle
, Rhododendron
, and heather
. Multiple lakes are situated within the nature reserve, including Lac Blanc, Lac Noir, Lac Cornu
, and Lac du Brévent
.
The information cabin and the discovery path, both started in 1976, are the two elements central to the environmental education
of the reserve. Both are accessible to the general public and for this reason, the nature reserve is considered a success.
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
located in the Aiguilles Rouges
Aiguilles Rouges
The Aiguilles Rouges are a crystalline mountainous massif of the French Prealps, opposite the Mont Blanc massif. The color of the iron rich gneiss mountains gives the range its name. The highest summit is the Aiguille du Belvédère at...
mountain range in the Haute-Savoie department
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
in southeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
History
In the 1960s, a small reserve was created outside of the alpine village of ArgentièreArgentière
Argentière is a picturesque skiing, alpine walking and mountaineering village in the French Alps, part of the commune of Chamonix Mont Blanc. Altitude: 1252m .-Geography:...
. In 1968, the Aiguilles Rouges mountain range became a game reserve
Game reserve
A game reserve is an area of land set aside for maintenance of wildlife for tourism or hunting purposes. Many game reserves are located in Africa. Most are open to the public, and tourists commonly take sightseeing safaris or hunt wild game....
. At the insistence of Jean Eyherald, the priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
of Argentière, and a geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
, Yvonne Gubler, an observation site for the Alps was installed above Argentière. Accessible via chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
, it became difficult to access following an accident. A site at the Col des Montets
Col des Montets
Col des Montets is a mountain pass in the French Alps in the Haute-Savoie department of France. It is on the road between Chamonix and Martigny in the canton of Valais, Switzerland.It lies between the Swiss Col de la Forclaz and Chamonix....
mountain pass was chosen, In 1971 with the support of mountaineer
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
Maurice Herzog
Maurice Herzog
Maurice Herzog is a French mountaineer and sports administrator who was born in Lyon, France. He led the expedition that first climbed a peak over 8000m, Annapurna, in 1950, and reached the summit with Louis Lachenal. Upon his return, he wrote a best-selling book about the expedition...
, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc and Vallorcine
Vallorcine
Vallorcine is a municipality in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes State in south-eastern France.-Geography:Located at the foot of the Mont Blanc Vallorcine is a tiny and so far unspoilt little ski village located within the Chamonix Valley and forming part of the Domaine de Balme ski...
created the la réserve intercommunale du col des Montets (Intercommunal reserve of the Col des Montets). The reserve was created by ministerial decree
Law of France
In academic terms, French law can be divided into two main categories: private or judicial law and public law .Judicial law includes, in particular:*civil law ; and*criminal law ....
on . It covers 3279 hectares (8,102.6 acre) in the communes of Chamonix
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
and Vallorcine
Vallorcine
Vallorcine is a municipality in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes State in south-eastern France.-Geography:Located at the foot of the Mont Blanc Vallorcine is a tiny and so far unspoilt little ski village located within the Chamonix Valley and forming part of the Domaine de Balme ski...
. The nature reserve is managed by the ASTERS association, which is responsible for all the nature reserves in Haute-Savoie.
Since 2006 the reserve has been under consideration for either declassification or reclassification, because of contention over a private landowner not being covered under the constitution in 1974. A public inquiry regarding the reclassification began in 2008 and is currently in progress.
The nature reserve is adjacent to two others:
- Vallon de Bérard National Nature Reserve, established in 1992 in Vallorcine
- Carlaveyron National Nature Reserve, established in 1991, situated near the Gorges de la Diosaz in Les HouchesLes HouchesLes Houches is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Overview:It is a ski-resort, and is located 6 kilometres from Chamonix with a ski domain which extends from an altitude of 950 metres up to 1900 metres...
In the reserve one can find typical mountainous plant and animal species, such as Alpine Ibex
Alpine Ibex
The Alpine ibex, , is a species of wild goat that lives in the mountains of the European Alps. In its habitat region, the species is known as bouquetin , steinbock , and stambecco ....
, Chamois
Chamois
The chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra, is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe, including the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, the European Alps, the Tatra Mountains, the Balkans, parts of Turkey, and the Caucasus. The chamois has also been introduced to the South Island of New Zealand...
, Rock Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
, Rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
, and heather
Calluna
Calluna vulgaris is the sole species in the genus Calluna in the family Ericaceae. It is a low-growing perennial shrub growing to tall, or rarely to and taller, and is found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade...
. Multiple lakes are situated within the nature reserve, including Lac Blanc, Lac Noir, Lac Cornu
Lac Cornu
Lac Cornu is a lake in the Aiguilles Rouges massif of Haute-Savoie, France. It is located at an elevation of 2276 m with a surface area of 5.4 ha.Petit Lac Cornu is located 500 m North West, at an elevation of 2243 m. Its surface area is 4700 m²....
, and Lac du Brévent
Lac du Brévent
Lac du Brévent is a lake in the municipality of Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France. It is located below the Le Brévent peak, at an elevation of approx. 2125 m....
.
Visitor information
An information cabin, open from the first of June to the fifteenth of September, is located at the Col des Montets and provides information to visitors about the alpine fauna and flora, activities, and scientific pursuits. A curving "discovery path" accesses the top of the pass, allowing a pleasant overview of the characteristic natural areas of the nature reserve, and more generally the Alps.The information cabin and the discovery path, both started in 1976, are the two elements central to the environmental education
Environmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
of the reserve. Both are accessible to the general public and for this reason, the nature reserve is considered a success.