Recorded Seismic Activity and Earthquake History Near Réserve naturelle régionale des gorges de la Loire

Réserve naturelle régionale des Jasseries de Colleigne Protected Area and Landscape Atlas

High-altitude moorlands and glacial geography in the Monts du Forez

This regional nature reserve provides a critical look at the Hautes Chaumes du Forez, an upland plateau in the Massif Central characterized by open grasslands and peat bogs. The site serves as a vital case study for the conservation of rare montane habitats maintained through traditional pastoral farming practices. Map the glacial Chorsin valley and explore the diverse botanical landscape contained within these protected high-altitude boundaries.

Area

2.85 km²

Established

1985

IUCN

IV

Relief

Mountain

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 du lac de Malaguet: Regional Nature Reserve and Wetland Atlas

Mapped protected landscapes in Haute-Loire, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

This protected area centers on a 14th-century artificial lake that now functions as a rich ecological sanctuary. Explore the confluence of medieval water infrastructure, riparian forests, and meadow zones that support diverse upland fauna. The site offers a clear example of long-term landscape transformation from industrial utility to a protected biodiversity refuge within the eastern Massif Central.

Area

0.542 km²

Established

2014

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Réserve naturelle régionale de la mine du Verdy: A Subterranean Protected Area in France

Mapping the ecological geography of the Monts du Lyonnais.

The Réserve naturelle régionale de la mine du Verdy stands as France's smallest nature reserve, protecting an intricate network of abandoned mining galleries beneath the surface of the Monts du Lyonnais. This site serves as a crucial underground sanctuary for diverse bat species and cave-dwelling invertebrates, showcasing how repurposed industrial landscapes can harbor significant biodiversity within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Area

0.001 km²

Established

1990

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Réserve naturelle régionale de l'étang de Saint-Bonnet: Wetland Atlas and Map Discovery

Examining protected wetland geography in the Isère department

This protected area centers on the étang de Saint-Bonnet, a wetland habitat defined by dense reedbeds and pond-centered ecosystems. It provides a distinct example of nature conservation situated between major urban corridors, showcasing how amphibians and diverse bird communities thrive within a small, managed lowland basin.

Area

0.514 km²

Established

1987

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Réserve naturelle régionale du Puy de Marmant: Volcanic Geography and Protected Terrain

Regional nature reserve in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes landscape.

This protected site preserves a prominent volcanic hill and its surrounding dry grasslands within the Limagne basin. The reserve serves as an ecologically significant island, maintaining specialized thermophilous plants and rare geological formations composed of basalt and peperite. It remains an essential reference for understanding the volcanic heritage and unique botanical diversity of the Puy-de-Dôme department.

Area

0.203 km²

Established

1985

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Chaîne des Puys - faille de Limagne: Mapping Volcanic and Tectonic Protected Landscapes

Geological exploration of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes volcanic chain

Spanning a rhythmic skyline of roughly eighty volcanoes, the Chaîne des Puys - faille de Limagne represents a premier site for studying continental rifting and volcanic landforms. This protected monument offers a clear view into the interplay between the ancient mountain basement, the massive Limagne fault, and the resulting volcanic edifices that define the regional identity of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes area.

Area

242.23 km²

Established

2018

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Temperate

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