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Géologique de Haute-Provence National Nature Reserve

The Géologique de Haute-Provence National Nature Reserve (RNN73) is a national nature reserve in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Established in 1984, it covers 269.316 hectares (665.49 acres) across 18 sites in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Var. Located between the Verdon and Durance rivers, it is an area designated for its landscape diversity, witness of the geological past of the Earth, and is the largest geological reserve in Europe.[1]

Géologique de Haute-Provence National Nature Reserve
Marl of the Adret de l'Escure
Map
LocationAlpes-de-Haute-Provence and Var, France
Nearest cityDigne-les-Bains
Coordinates44°4′41″N 6°18′21″E / 44.07806°N 6.30583°E / 44.07806; 6.30583
Area269 ha (660 acres)
Established31 October 1984
Governing bodyDepartmental Council of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Haute-Provence Geologic Formation
Stratigraphic range: Sinemurian–Toarcian
Dalle à ammonites in Digne-les-Bains
TypeGeologic formation
Location
Coordinates44°4′41″N 6°18′21″E / 44.07806°N 6.30583°E / 44.07806; 6.30583
Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Country France
Type section
Named forHaute-Provence
Géologique de Haute-Provence National Nature Reserve is located in France
Géologique de Haute-Provence National Nature Reserve
Géologique de Haute-Provence National Nature Reserve (France)

Location

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The domain of the nature reserve spreads across 18 sites bearing fossils and outcrops with a total area of 269.316 hectares (665.49 acres), in the communes of Barles, Barrême, Chaudon-Norante, Clumanc, Digne-les-Bains, Entrages, Hautes-Duyes, La Javie, La Robine-sur-Galabre, Saint-Lions, Senez and Tartonne.

It is completed by a protection area[2] which regulates[3] fossil collections, spreading across 52 communes in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and 7 in Var. The total territory of the protected area covers more than 2,300 km2 (890 sq mi)[4] and covers the communes of Aiglun, Angles, Archail, Authon, Auzet, Barles, Barras, Barrême, Beaujeu, Beynes, Blieux, Bras-d'Asse, Le Brusquet, Castellane, Le Castellard-Mélan, Le Chaffaut-Saint-Jurson, Champtercier, Châteauredon, Chaudon-Norante, Clumanc, Digne-les-Bains, Draix, Entrages, Estoublon, Hautes-Duyes, La Javie, Lambruisse, Majastres, Mallemoisson, Marcoux, Mézel, Mirabeau, Montclar, Moriez, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, La Palud-sur-Verdon, Prads-Haute-Bléone, La Robine-sur-Galabre, Rougon, Saint-André-les-Alpes, Saint-Geniez, Saint-Jacques, Saint-Julien-d'Asse, Saint-Lions, Selonnet, Senez, Seyne, Tartonne, Thoard, Verdaches, Vergons and Le Vernet in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Bargème, Brenon, Le Bourguet, Châteauvieux, Comps-sur-Artuby, La Martre and Trigance in Var.[5]

History

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Ammonite from the Haute-Provence geological reserve showcased in the Digne-les-Bains museum

130 million years ago, giant ammonites more than one metre (3.3 ft) wide colonized the ocean that then covered this area of the Préalpes.[6]

Geologic patrimony

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Those fossils can be discovered either in the Musée Promenade at Digne-les-Bains, or in situ in the folded and fractured layers of geological sites.[6]

The most famous site is the Dalle à ammonites, on the RP 900 at 1.5 km (0.93 mi) north of Digne-les-Bains. With a 60° incline, it bears over 1,500 ammonites, 90% of which belong to the species Coroniceras multicostatum from the Sinemurian (Early Jurassic). Those ammonites could attain a diameter of 70 cm (28 in). Remains of nautilus, belemnites, Pecten and other bivalves can also be seen. The deposit thickness is estimated to be around 20 cm (7.9 in), laid down over a 100,000-year period.[7]

 
La Robine ichthyosaur

The La Robine ichthyosaur, displayed in the Digne museum, lived during the late Toarcian, 185 millions of years ago. This marine reptile was quickly buried, which limited its decomposition. Its conservation is due to paleogeographic conditions favouring the tilting of blocks, caused by the rifting following the opening of the Piemont-Liguria Ocean.[8]

 
Castellane sirenian

At Castellane, the museum of the Maison Nature et Patrimoine takes visitors back for the last 40 millions of years. At that time a warm sea covered this part of the Alpes-de-Hautes-Provence and was populated with marine mammals such as sirenians.[9] Also known as sea cows, as they mostly eat algae and aquatic plants, they gave birth to the ancient myth of mermaids.[10]

Touristic and educational interest

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The museum of Castellane, Sisteron and Digne-les-Bains offers marked discovery tours, accessible to anyone.

Administration, management plan, regulations

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Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Once managed by the Association pour la gestion de la réserve géologique de Haute Provence, established in 1984,[4] the nature reserve is now under the management of the Departmental Council of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

Regulations forbid the collection and extraction of any fossils. The collection of naturally released fossils is tolerated, but only in limited quantities.[5] It is designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark, in the Global Geoparks Network, and it was one of the four founding members of the European Geoparks Network.[4]

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The nature reserve was established under a decree dated 31 October 1984.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (2003). "Région de Digne (FR3600073)". Inventaire national du Patrimoine naturel. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Arrêté préfectoral no 89-527 du 15 mars 1989 portant création d'un périmètre de protection autour de la RNN géologique de Haute-Provence" (PDF). Dreal PACA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  3. ^ "Arrêté interpréfectoral réglementant le périmètre de protection autour de la RNN géologique de Haute-Provence" (PDF). Dreal PACA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  4. ^ a b c "Réserve géologique des Alpes, site de l'association pour la gestion". Archived from the original on 2013-10-01. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  5. ^ a b "Arrêté interpréfectoral réglementant le périmetre de protection de la Réserve naturelle géologique de Haute-Provence" (PDF). March 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Réserve naturelle géologique de Haute-Provence". Archived from the original on 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  7. ^ "Analyse de Georges Henri Ducreux". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  8. ^ "Circuit géodidactique du massif du Blayeul".
  9. ^ "Musée des sirènes et des fossile à Castellane". Archived from the original on 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  10. ^ "Musée des sirènes et des fossiles". Archived from the original on 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  11. ^ "Décret n°84-983 du 31 octobre 1984 PORTANT CREATION DE LA RESERVE NATURELLE GEOLOGIQUE DE LA REGION DE DIGNE (ALPES-DE-HAUTE-PROVENCE)". Legifrance. Archived from the original on 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
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