France - Ecrins National Park

The Ecrins form a massive single piece (2710 km2), one of the highest in France, since it culminates at more than 4000 meters, includes some 150 peaks of more than 3000 meters, including about fifty more 3500 meters and a very important ice system of more than 11000 ha, the second of France. It enjoys a strategic location in the alpine arc, in contact between the internal and external Alps, between the Southern and Northern Alps, at a crossroads of climatic, Mediterranean and continental influences. This original position and relations with neighboring areas give it an important role in the future European ecological network (many sites are identified under Natura 2000).