Dauphiné Prealps

44°46′31″N 5°50′22″E / 44.77528°N 5.83944°E / 44.77528; 5.83944GeographyCountryFranceRégionRhône-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'AzurRiversDrac, Durance, Isère and DrômeParent rangeAlpsBorders onProvence Alps and Prealps, Dauphiné Alps and Savoy PrealpsGeologyOrogenyAlpine orogenyType of rockSedimentary rocks^[2]

The Dauphiné Prealps (Préalpes du Dauphiné in French) are a mountain range in the south-western part of the Alps. They are located in Rhône-Alpes and, marginally, in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (south-eastern France). Dauphiné Prealps are the central section of the French Prealps.

Etymology

The Dauphiné (pronounced [dofine]) is a historical region whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of Isère, Drôme, and Hautes-Alpes.

Geography

Administratively the French part of the range belongs to the French departments of Isère, Drôme, Hautes-Alpes and, marginally, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. The whole range is drained by the Rhone river.

SOIUSA classification

According to SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the mountain range is an Alpine section, classified in the following way:^[3]

• Main part = Western Alps
• Major sector = South Western Alps
• Section = Dauphiné Prealps
• Code = I/A-6

Borders

Dauphiné Prealps' borders are (anticlockwise):

• Isère (north);
• Drac, Col Bayard - which connects them with Dauphiné Alps - and Durance (east)
• Buëch, Col de Macuègne - which connects them with Provence Alps and prealps - and Toulourenc river (south);
• Rhone and Isère valleys (west).

Subdivision

The Dauphiné Prealps are divided into five Alpine subsections:^[3]

• Dévoluy Mountains - SOIUSA code:I/A-6.I;
• Massif Céüse-Aujour - SOIUSA code:I/A-6.II;
• Massif du Vercors - SOIUSA code:I/A-6.III;
• Massif du Diois - SOIUSA code:I/A-6.IV;
• Massif des Baronnies - SOIUSA code:I/A-6.V.

Notable summits

Some notable summits of the range are:

Name	metres	feet
Grande Tête de l'Obiou	2,790	9,148
Grand Ferrand	2,759	9,049
Pic de Bure	2,709	8,885
Jocou	2,501	8,203
Grand Veymont	2,346	7,694

Notable passes

Some notable passes of the range are:

Name	location	type	elevation (m)	elevation (ft)
Col de la Croix Haute	Clelles to Lus-la-Croix-Haute	road	1,179	3,867
Col Bayard	Gap to Grenoble	road	1,248	4,093
Col du Noyer	Le Noyer to Saint-Étienne-en-Dévoluy	road	1,664	5,458

References

Maps

• French official cartography (Institut Géographique National - IGN); on-line version: www.geoportail.fr