Écrins National Park is located in France and split between two departments, Hautes-Alpes and Isère. The region was officially designated in 1973 and is one of six National Parks located within the country. This protected area is named after its most prominent peak Barre des Écrins, which translates to “closed off case” as the mountain is surrounded by four distinct glaciers. The peak sits at 4,102 meters and being the southernmost 4,000m peak, effectively marking the descent of the European Alps towards the Mediterranean Sea. Although the park's namesake peak is last 4,000m, this protected area features an additional 150 peaks over 3,000 meters. These staggering peaks contain within them the second largest glacial system in France, over 11,000 hectares approximately 10% of the park. The Park experiences a humid continental climate and with the radical mountainous terrain creates montane and alpine ecosystems. The proximity to the Mediterranean Sea also lends to less humid summers. Crystal blue alpine lakes are nestled in the bowls of these mountains carved out by glaciers. There are numerous waterfalls throughout the valleys and countless fields of green during the warm months. The previous extent of glaciers in this area have shaped the 33
valleys and river bottoms where people have settled for the past millennia. The local culture revolves around herding goats and sheep, where the production of milk and cheeses in these villages continues. The park actively works with locals in continuing to preserve these cultural activities, promoting them through partnership and providing resources for tourists to participate. More recently, outdoor recreation has become the main contributor to Park visitation. Throughout the year visitors travel globally to come hike, ski and mountain climb. Though no camping is allowed within the protected area there are chalets or shelters to hike to. A variety of fauna exist within the Park such as chamois, mouflon, and lynxes. In the 1960s ibex, where reintroduced to the area and wolves have also made a return after being previously hunted out of the region. The sharp granite and gneiss peaks make it suitable territory for birds of prey to thrive as well as their prey, marmots. There is a large diverse plant popula-
tion, over 2,500 species of flowers, trees and mosses are scattered throughout, some unique to a valley due to the aspect. Of these, 389 species are endemic and 216 are rare or endangered. The massive extent of park totaling 918km2 creates both immense recreational opporutunities as well as experiencing the local culture. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a union of of several public and private sector member organizations concerned with ecological conservation. Of the 6 categories developed by members of the IUCN Écrins National Park provides management across three types. The peripheral zone is a zone established outside of the protected area that is categorized as a 5 due to the shared ecological similarities of the core, but also works to conserve the local inhabitant culture. As a designated National Park of France, it falls under the IUCN category 2. The remote mountaineering and hiking opportunities within also contain Wilderness aspects under a category 1b.
