Diois Mountains

Diois Mountains
The massif is at the westernmost part of the Western Alps
Highest point
Elevation	2,051 m (6,729 ft)
Parent peak	Jocou
Naming
Native name	Massif du Diois (French)
Geography
Country	France
Departments	Drôme Isère
Region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Parent range	French Prealps
Geology
Rock type(s)	Marl, limestone, conglomerate

The Diois Mountains (French: Massif du Diois, pronounced [masif dy diwa]) are a massif of the French Prealps located in the department of Drôme and in the extreme south of the department of Isère.

Geography

Location

This mountainous territory is located to the south of the Diois region, the Drôme river and the natural and historical region of Dauphiné.

It is surrounded by the Vercors massif to the north of the Drôme, the Dévoluy massif and the Bochaine mountains to the east of Buëch and the Baronnies massif to the south of Aigues.

Main summits

• Jocou [fr], 2,051 m
• Belle-Motte, 1,952 m
• Toussière, 1,916 m
• Mont Barral, 1,903 m
• Pare, 1,862 m
• Duffre, 1,757 m
• Pyramide, 1,734 m
• Quigouret, 1,729 m
• Luzet, 1,692 m
• Serre Chaumille, 1,653 m
• Serre de Bouisse, 1,645 m
• Bane, 1,643 m
• Chauvet, 1,617 m
• Servelle, 1,613 m
• Montagne d'Angèle, 1,606 m
• Trois Becs, 1,589 m
• Serre de Rigaud, 1,574 m
• Archier, 1,571 m
• Boutarinard, 1,570 m
• Maraysse, 1,567 m
• Jouffan, 1,564 m
• Pinchinet, 1,556 m
• Tarsimoure, 1,550 m
• Puy, 1,550 m
• Couspeau, 1,544 m
• Casses, 1,528 m
• Peyre Grosse, 1,522 m
• Greisière, 1,492 m
• Praloubeau, 1,476 m
• Miélandre, 1,451 m
• Ocelon, 1,356 m
• Lance, 1,340 m
• Eyriau, 1,298 m

Geology

Similar to the Baronnies massif, the Diois region is characterized by mid-altitude limestone mountains, a rock type also abundantly found in the Vercors.^[1] In the valleys, sandy-marl soils are predominant.^[2] Most of the summits in the area range in altitude from 1,000 to 1,700 meters. The small valleys, sometimes carved into gorges by watercourses, are oriented in various directions, creating a highly compartmentalized terrain.

The elevation increases progressively eastwards.

Biodiversity

The biodiversity of the Diois region reflects both Mediterranean and mountainous influences.

Flora

The Diois is predominantly covered by forests consisting of downy oak, Scots pine, Austrian pine, common beech, silver fir, common box, common juniper, and laburnum.^[3]

In more open areas, common thyme, common lavender and genista cinerea can be found.^[4]

Fauna

The Diois is home to an abundance of wildlife, including the Alpine chamois, European roe deer, red deer, and Eurasian wild boar. The grey wolf naturally returned to the area in the late 1990s and has since established several known packs.

The forests are inhabited by common genets, pine martens, and beech martens. Along rivers and streams, signs of Eurasian beavers and European otters can be observed, with occasional sightings of these animals.

The highest parts of the massif are inhabited by black grouse, Tengmalm's owls, and Eurasian pygmy owls, alongside more common species like ring ouzels, citril finches, and red crossbills. The dry slopes of Jocou and certain summits in the Diois still host a few pairs of rock partridges.

Local populations of ocellated lizards and yellow-bellied toads are also notable in the Diois.^[5]

References

1. Études rhodaniennes: revue de géographie régionale (in French). 1977. p. 97.
2. Kilian, Wilfrid; Reboul, Paul (1915). Contribution à l'étude des faunes paléocrétacées du sud-est de la France (in French). Imprimerie nationale. p. 107.
3. Annales de géographie (in French). A. Colin. 1897. p. 297.
4. Vins, vignes, vignerons du Diois (in French). FeniXX. 1983-01-01. ISBN 978-2-402-62669-9.
5. Pitte, André (1995). Le Guide du Diois (in French). Editions A Die. p. 35. ISBN 978-2-908730-25-8.