Peaks
Pic des Ours
2,283 m
Park geography
Detailed analysis of terrain elevations, regional coverage, and alpine landscape features.
Structured Geographic Profile and Mapped Boundaries of Écrins National Park in France
Examine the geographic characteristics of Écrins National Park, spanning 925 square kilometers across the French regions of Hautes-Alpes, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Isère. This profile documents the expansive mountain relief, elevations ranging from 800 to 4102 meters, and diverse natural features including glaciers, streams, and wetlands within the protected boundary.
High Alpine Wilderness in the Heart of the French Alps
Écrins National Park
Écrins National Park is one of France's eight national parks, protecting a spectacular portion of the Dauphiné Alps in southeastern France. Straddling the departments of Isère and Hautes-Alpes, the park encompasses the entire Massif des Écrins, a high mountain range characterized by jagged peaks, extensive glaciers, and deep glacial valleys. The park rises from approximately 800 meters elevation to 4,102 meters at the Barre des Écrins, the highest summit in the massif. Its territory spans roughly 925 square kilometers of protected core area, with an additional adhesion area bringing the total managed landscape to nearly 1,800 square kilometers. The park represents a critical ecological corridor along the continental divide separating the Isère and Durance river basins, marking the boundary between the Northern and Southern Alps.
- Location
- France
- Park type
- National park
- Established
- 1973
- Area
- 925 km²
- Highest point
- 4,102 m
Location overview
Mapping administrative borders within French regions and departments
Geographic Setting and Regional Location of Écrins National Park
Écrins National Park is situated in France, spanning the regions of Hautes-Alpes, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Isère. As a fully terrestrial protected landscape, the park features no coastal, island, or marine territories.
- Countries
- France
- Regions
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Hautes-Alpes, Isère
- Primary location
- France
- Geographic setting
- Inland
Boundary and coordinates
Spatial dimensions and coordinates across a 925 square kilometer protected area.
Geographic Boundary Map and Spatial Limits of Écrins National Park
Interactive outlines map the spatial footprint of Écrins National Park within the regional landscape. Accompanying geographic indicators provide estimated values for the 925 square kilometer area and spatial span.
- Boundary area
- 931.4 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 343.5 km
- Northernmost point
- 45.0472° N
- Southernmost point
- 44.6137° N
- Easternmost point
- 6.5086° E
- Westernmost point
- 5.951° E
- Geographic centre
- 44.8572° N, 6.2762° E
- North–south span
- 48.2 km
- East–west span
- 44.1 km
Elevation and terrain
Vertical range profiles and recorded natural features
Écrins National Park Terrain and Elevation Summary
Explore the recorded elevation summary ranging from 800 meters to a high point of 4102 meters across the terrain. Review the detailed cards for linked glaciers, streams, wetlands, and peaks located within the landscape.
- Minimum elevation
- 800 m
- Maximum elevation
- 4,102 m
- Highest point
- 4,102 m
Selected named natural features
Streams
Torrent de Pisse Bernard
Peaks
Meije Orientale
3,891 m
Peaks
La Tour Rouge
2,920 m
Streams
Torrent de la Petite Pisse
Peaks
Tête blanche
2,420 m
Environmental setting
Interpreting alpine climate zones, relief types, and forest cover
Écrins National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Setting
Recorded landscape features and habitat types provide complementary ways to read physical settings across mountainous terrain. Linked categories connect stored environmental data directly to relevant atlas destinations.
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
- Water
- Major water bodies
- Forest cover
- Partial forest
- Seasonality
- Seasonal
Landscape features
Mountains · Valleys · Glacier · Rivers · Lakes · Forest · Grassland · Cliffs
Habitat types
Temperate coniferous forest · Montane forest · Alpine meadow · Grassland · Riverine habitat · Lacustrine habitat
Park atlas
Explore the diverse protected landscapes of the Dauphiné Alps, tracing connections between Écrins National Park and its regional counterparts.
Discover Other National Parks and Protected Areas Near Écrins National Park in the French Alps
Browse a curated selection of national parks and protected areas across the broader French Alps, providing essential geographic context around Écrins National Park and its high-altitude environment. A structured comparison of adjacent alpine wilderness is facilitated, revealing connected protected landscapes and diverse mountain ecosystems within the region.
Nature reserveAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Park boundaries overlap#1 closest
North
Réserve naturelle nationale de la haute vallée du Vénéon: Alpine Geography and Protected Boundaries
High-altitude mountain terrain in the French Alps
The Réserve naturelle nationale de la haute vallée du Vénéon occupies 61 hectares of striking alpine terrain near the hamlet of La Bérarde. Its landscape of steep slopes and glacial deposits functions as a key protected buffer zone, supporting diverse flora and fauna within the broader mountainous geography of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
- Area
- 0.61 km²
- Established
- 1974
- IUCN
- IV
Nature reserveProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Mapped location lies within the park boundary#2 closest
South
Réserve naturelle nationale de la haute vallée de la Séveraisse: Protected Alpine Corridor
High-mountain riverine landscape and buffer zone in Hautes-Alpes
This nature reserve encompasses a 4-kilometer stretch of the upper Séveraisse valley, focusing on alluvial riverbed habitat and peripheral mountain terrain. Located in the French Alps, the reserve provides a protected transition zone characterized by its narrow, U-shaped valley floor and steep rocky inclines, offering a key geographic link to the wider Écrins ecosystem.
- Area
- 1.55 km²
- Established
- 1974
- IUCN
- IV
Nature reserveFrance
Park boundaries overlap#3 closest
West
Réserve naturelle nationale de la haute vallée du Béranger: Mountain Protected Area Map
Tracing the alpine terrain and torrent corridors in the French Alps.
Covering roughly 84 hectares in the Isère region, this nature reserve integrates traditional pastoral landscapes with steep-sided forest slopes and rocky alpine ridges. It functions as a key protective buffer for the larger Écrins National Park, preserving a representative slice of southern French Alpine geography within a single, cohesive valley setting.
- Area
- 0.84 km²
- Established
- 1974
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
Nature reserveProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
About 4.4 km away#4 closest
East
Réserve naturelle régionale des Partias: Alpine Geography and Protected Nature Reserve Data
High-altitude mountain terrain in the southern French Alps
Covering slopes west of Briançon, Réserve naturelle régionale des Partias protects a layered alpine environment ranging from forested basins to rocky crests. This atlas entry provides a detailed geographic overview of the protected area, focusing on its distinctive mountain lakes, diverse soil substrates, and essential role in conserving alpine ecosystems.
- Area
- 8.018 km²
- Established
- 2009
- IUCN
- IV
- Relief
- Mountain
Nature reserveIsère
24 km away#5 closest
Northwest
Réserve naturelle régionale de l'étang de Haute-Jarrie, Isère Protected Wetland Landscape
Regional nature reserve and migratory bird sanctuary
Situated on the Plateau de Champagnier in Isère, this regional nature reserve offers a concentrated example of glacial pond ecology and wetland biodiversity. Covering 11 hectares, it acts as a critical stopover within the Grésivaudan valley migratory corridor. This protected site features diverse habitats, including reedbeds and wet meadows, that support hundreds of recorded bird species and a variety of dragonflies and amphibians, making it a significant area for ecological study.
- Area
- 0.11 km²
- Established
- 2008
- IUCN
- IV
- Relief
- Upland
Nature reserveAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes
About 24 km away#6 closest
Northwest
Réserve naturelle régionale des Isles du Drac: Braided River Landscape and Regional Map Context
A vital riverine conservation corridor in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France
The Réserve naturelle régionale des Isles du Drac occupies an expansive alluvial floodplain where the river transitions into a braided system. This reserve preserves dynamic gravel bars and woodland habitats that support exceptional biodiversity within the northern Alpine landscape. It offers a detailed look at how riverine corridors persist alongside significant hydroelectric and industrial infrastructure in the Grenoble area.
- Area
- 8.048 km²
- Established
- 2009
- IUCN
- IV
- Relief
- Lowland
National parkSavoie
26 km away#7 closest
Northeast
Vanoise National Park: Explore France's Original National Park in the Savoie Alps
Mapped Alpine geography, glacial terrain, and protected landscape.
Vanoise National Park is France's pioneering national park, a protected landscape of immense alpine beauty situated in the Savoie department. Renowned for its dramatic glacial terrain, over 100 peaks above 3,000 meters, and the iconic Alpine ibex, this park offers a profound geographic context. Explore its mapped boundaries and discover the unique atlas-level insights into France's mountainous protected areas and their ecological significance.
- Area
- 534 km²
- Established
- 1963
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain
National parkFrance
37 km away#8 closest
Southeast
Mercantour National Park: Mapped Alpine Protected Landscape and Regional Geography
Explore France's dramatic Alps, park boundaries, and unique ecotones.
Mercantour National Park stands as a premier protected area within the French Alps, distinguished by its remarkable geographic diversity and ecological significance. This national park encompasses mountainous terrain featuring dramatic peaks, deep glacial valleys, and a unique ecotone where Mediterranean and Alpine ecosystems converge. MoriAtlas facilitates a detailed atlas-style exploration of Mercantour National Park, highlighting its mapped protected boundaries, varied natural landscapes, and its pivotal role in regional geography and conservation efforts.
- Area
- 679 km²
- Established
- 1979
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 800K annual
MoriAtlas Explorer
Continue Exploring Écrins National Park's Mapped Alpine Geography
Deepen your understanding of Écrins National Park by exploring its detailed geographic context and protected landscape features. This atlas entry provides a foundation for understanding the park's mapped boundaries, high-altitude terrain, and role within the wider Dauphiné Alps region. Discover the intricate natural geography that defines this significant French National Park.
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