Maritime Alps
# Maritime Alps

The Maritime Alps (French: Alpes Maritimes; Italian: Alpi Marittime) are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and the Italian regions of Piedmont and Liguria. They are the southernmost part of the Alps.

## Geography

Administratively the range is divided between the Italian provinces of Cuneo and Imperia (eastern slopes) and the French department of Alpes-Maritimes (western slopes).

The Maritime Alps are drained by the rivers Roya, Var and Verdon and their tributaries on the French side; by the Stura di Demonte and other tributaries of the Tanaro and Po on the Italian side. There are many attractive perched villages, such as Belvédère at the entrance to the spectacular Gordolasque valley, some concealing unexpected architectural riches (for example in the south there are numerous churches decorated with murals and altarpieces by primitive Niçois painters).

### Borders

The borders of the Maritime Alps are (anticlockwise):

* Vermenagna creek, Col de Tende - which connects them with the Ligurian Alps - and Roya (east);
* Mediterranean Sea and Var valley (south)
* Verdon, Col d'Allos - which connects them with Provence Alps and Prealps - and Ubaye (west);
* Maddalena Pass (which connects them with the Cottian Alps) and Stura di Demonte (north).

## Peaks

The main peaks of the Maritime Alps are:

| Name | Elevation |
| - | - |
| Monte Argentera | 3,297 m |
| Monte Stella | 3,262 m |
| Cime du Gélas | 3,135 m |
| Cima di Nasta | 3,108 m |
| Monte Matto | 3,097 m |
| Mont Pelat | 3,053 m |
| Mont Clapier | 3,046 m |
| Mont Ténibre | 3,032 m |
| Enciastraia | 2,955 m |
| Mont Bégo | 2,872 m |
| Mont Mounier | 2,818 m |
| Roche de l'Abisse | 2,755 m |
| Monte Grammondo | 1,378 m |

## Mountain passes

The chief passes of the Maritime Alps are:

| Name | Location | Type | Elevation |
| - | - | - | - |
| Col de la Bonette | Tinée Valley to Barcelonnette | Road (minor loop climbs to 2,802 m) | 2715 |
| Col de Restefond | Col de la Bonette to Barcelonnette | Road | 2680 |
| Bassa di Druos | Tinée Valley to Terme di Valdieri | Bridle path | 2630 |
| Colle di Ciriegia | Saint-Martin-Vésubie to Terme di Valdieri | Bridle path | 2551 |
| Col des Granges Communes | Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée to Barcelonnette | Bridle path | 2512 |
| Col de Pourriac | Tinee Valley to Argentera | Footpath | 2506 |
| Colle di Guercia | Tinee Valley to Vinadio | Footpath | 2451 |
| Col de la Lombarde | Isola to Vinadio | Road | 2350 |
| Col de la Cayolle | Var River valley to Barcelonnette | Road | 2327 |
| Col du Sabion | Tende to Valdieri | Bridle path | 2264 |
| Col d'Allos | Verdon River valley to Barcelonnette | Road | 2250 |
| Maddalena Pass | Barcelonnette to Cuneo | Road | 1995 |
| Col de Tende | Tende to Cuneo | Road, road tunnel Railway tunnel | 1873 |
| Col de Turini | Vésubie river valley to Sospel | Road | 1607 |

## Nature conservation

The French Mercantour National Park (central area:68,500 ha + peripheral area:140,000 ha) is part of the Maritime Alps as well as the Parco naturale delle Alpi Marittime, an Italian regional nature park of 28,455 ha.

