Verdon Gorge

The Verdon Gorge is located in the south-east of France, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The Verdon Gorge is a canyon of the Verdon River. The canyon is about 25 kilometers long and up to 700 meters deep. The most impressive part of the canyon lies between the towns of Castellane and Moutier-Sainte-Marie, where the river plunged 700 meters into a limestone mountain. In some places, it is very narrow: the canyon walls are separated by no more than 198 m.

Despite the steep slopes of the gorge, the most intrepid explorers can follow the path quite far into the canyon. This trail gives you the opportunity to admire the magnificent views of the gorge, besides the overhanging bare rocks and the rapid rapid of the river under your feet - a vivid reminder of the power of nature. Eventually, the Verdon River flows into the artificial lake Sainte-Croix du Verdon.

During the Triassic period, the French region of Provence was covered by the sea. After the marine organisms died, they settled to the bottom of the sea and over the course of many millions of years compacted and formed limestone. The tectonic plate of Africa began to overlap with the tectonic plate of Europe, and the Alps and the Verdon Mountains were formed. Millions of years later, the Verdon River, meandering through the area, penetrated the weak limestone up to 700 m deep. The number of caves in this area suggests that this process was complemented by the chemical destruction of limestone, but no evidence has been found to date that the gorge originated from a system of underground caves in which the vault collapsed.

Due to the Canyon's proximity to the French Riviera, it is full of tourists, as well as many outdoor activities. The Verdon Gorge is a favorite place for rock climbers, as it has more than 1,500 climbing routes. The gorge is also a favorite fishing spot, especially for those who fly-fish. Hiking, canoeing, paragliding, rafting are among the many sports practiced in the region.