Comprehensive Geographic Profile and Mapped Boundaries of Cévennes National Park in France

Parc naturel régional des Monts d'Ardèche: Protected Landscapes and Geographic Map Context

Volcanic highland terrain within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region

Covering over 248,000 hectares, Parc naturel régional des Monts d'Ardèche represents a significant protected area in the southern Massif Central. The region is marked by its distinctive volcanic sucs, including Mont Gerbier-de-Jonc, and a complex network of Cévenol river valleys. It remains a focal point for understanding the transition between high volcanic plateaus and traditional terraced agricultural slopes in southeastern France.

Area

2,280 km²

Established

2001

IUCN

V

Réserve naturelle régionale des Grads de Naves: Regional Park and Limestone Plateau Geography

Mediterranean habitat in the southern Ardèche region of France

Situated near Les Vans, the Réserve naturelle régionale des Grads de Naves is a small but biologically significant limestone plateau. This protected area demonstrates the natural reclamation of former cultivated farmland, now featuring a dense community of Mediterranean flora, breeding birds, and butterfly species within an iconic garrigue and oak-scrub landscape.

Area

0.12 km²

Established

1981

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Site paléontologique de La Lieude: Geological Heritage and Permian Fossil Site in Hérault

Tracing ancient reptile pathways across preserved sedimentary rock

Located on the edge of the Massif Central, the Site paléontologique de La Lieude is a protected natural monument in the Hérault department. It showcases an exceptional Permian-age surface embedded with hundreds of trackways left by early synapsids, providing an essential geographic and scientific record of prehistoric life in France.

Ripisylve et lit majeur de l'Ardèche: Protected Area and Alluvial River Geography

A vital riparian corridor in the French Ardèche valley.

This protected area centers on the active Ardèche river channel and its adjacent floodplain. The site features a rich diversity of humid habitats, ranging from quiet pools and side channels to sediment rich gravel deposits. It serves as an ecologically significant corridor for riparian woodland, providing a habitat structure that is central to the environmental health of the region.

Area

2.87 km²

Established

1999

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Temperate

Réserve naturelle régionale des gorges du Gardon: Geography and Protected Area Overview

Mediterranean river valley and raptor conservation corridor

Examine the distinct topography of the Réserve naturelle régionale des gorges du Gardon. The protected area features steep limestone cliffs and a river corridor that sustains dense Mediterranean oak forests. This site remains a critical node for raptor conservation, specifically supporting nesting Egyptian vultures and Bonelli eagles within its structured valley geography.

Area

4.913 km²

Established

2007

IUCN

IV

Salins de Frontignan: An Atlas of Protected Coastal Wetlands in the Hérault Region

Explore saline landscapes and marshland geography on the Gulf of Lion.

Located in the Hérault department, Salins de Frontignan offers a fascinating study in coastal geography and ecological reclamation. This protected area features abandoned salt marshes that have evolved into a vital network of evaporation basins, salt steppes, and lagoon margins. The site serves as a crucial habitat for specialized halophytic plants, positioned uniquely between the Mediterranean shoreline and the limestone foothills of the Gardiole range.

Area

2.795 km²

Established

1980

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Réserve naturelle régionale de Mahistre et Musette: Regional Nature Reserve and Wetland Atlas

Petite Camargue geography and protected marshland mosaic in Occitanie

Located in the Gard department of southern France, the Réserve naturelle régionale de Mahistre et Musette represents a successful case of wetland restoration. This protected area features a distinct landscape of reedbeds, saline flats, and ponds, providing critical habitat for numerous wetland species. Access detailed geographic context on how these restored marshes link to the broader Petit Camargue environmental network.

Area

2.616 km²

Established

1999

IUCN

IV

Réserve naturelle régionale des coteaux du Fel, A Protected Landscape in Occitanie, France

Regional nature reserve in the Aveyron department.

Located along the Lot valley, the Réserve naturelle régionale des coteaux du Fel preserves a mosaic of sun-drenched oak and chestnut woodlands, heathlands, and historic meadows. This nature reserve provides a critical study of small-area conservation and dryland habitat management within the rural landscape of Occitanie. Use this resource to understand the park's terrain, mapped boundaries, and its ecological importance in the northern Aveyron region.

Area

123.38 km²

Established

2011

IUCN

IV