Les Gorges du Vendon (Europe's Grand Canyon)
Les Gorges du Verdon is found
high up in the Haut-Var region of Provence. This natural wonder is a vast
chasm cut by the Verdon River over the course of time. Roads run around
both sides of the gorge, which is up to 800 meters (2,025 feet) deep at
some points. The entire circuit is 130 kilometers (80 miles) long, and
the narrow ribbon of the river far below winds its way through the full
21 km (13 miles) of the gorge into the man-made Lac de Sainte-Croix.
This is the largest gorge in Europe and is sometimes referred to as
Europe's 'Grand Canyon'. It has been formed by water eroding the soft
limestone rock over some 25 million years. The water gradually worked its
way through the limestone plateau, gouging out caves and tunnels as it
flowed. These caverns grew larger until finally the roof of the plateau
caved in, forming this dramatic V-shaped gorge. In some places at the top
of the walls of the gorge are as much as 1,500 meters (4,920 feet apart),
but at the valley floor the gorge can be as little as 6 meters (20 feet)
across. In 1997, the Parc Natural Regional du Verdon was set up to
protect this unique and beautiful landscape.
In 1905 the caver, Edouard Alfred Martel, led a team to explore the area,
which had until then been unknown to anyone except the locals. The gorge
quickly became a tourist attraction and today drivers can stop at the
lookout point of the Balcons de la Mescla, which affords an amazing view
right down to the valley floor. West of this point the road has been
designed to give the best possible views but drivers need to keep their
eyes on the road!
The best way to see the gorge
is by car, but the road is treacherous. So be careful if you intend to do
so.
