Sainte-Victoire National Nature Reserve
| Sainte-Victoire National Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
 Montagne Sainte-Victoire | |
| Location | Bouches-du-Rhône, France |
| Nearest city | Beaurecueil |
| Coordinates | 43°31′53″N 5°32′29″E / 43.5313°N 5.54138°E |
| Area | 139.84 ha |
| Established | 1 March 1994 |
| Governing body | Departmental Council of Bouches-du-Rhône |
| Roques-Hautes Fossil Site | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: | |
| Type | Fossil site |
| Unit of | Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Clay, shale |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 43°31′53″N 5°32′29″E / 43.5313°N 5.54138°E |
| Region |  Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
| Country |  France |
| Type section | |
| Named by | Dughi & Sirugue |
  Sainte-Victoire National Nature Reserve (France) | |
The Sainte-Victoire National Nature Reserve (RNN117) is a national nature reserve located in the Bouches-du-Rhône department. Covering 140 hectares, the nature reserve was established in 1994 to protect the fossilized dinosaur eggs preserved on the western foot of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire.[1]
Localisation[edit]
The territory of the nature reserve is located in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, on the commune of Beaurecueil. Set on the western foot of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire, the site covers 140 ha and consists of the fossil site of Roques-Hautes. The nature reserve includes a central part named "Les Grands Creux" whose penetration is forbidden and a protection area.[2]
History of the site and reserve[edit]
The site is known since 1947 for its paleontological deposit of dinosaur eggs.
Late Cretaceous Provence was a tropical region, occupied by a fluvio-lacustrine biotope favourable to animal reproduction, notably for the egg-laying of large reptiles, such as turtles, crocodiles and dinosaurs. The site was classified as early as 1964, under the law of 1930.[3]
Ecology (biodiversity, ecological interest, etc.)[edit]
The principal interest of the site is paleontological, due to the presence of the dinosaur eggs fossil deposits, one of the few of such fossil sites in the world.
Roques-Hautes fossil site[edit]
The Roques-Hautes fossil site is a deposit of dinosaur eggs, located near the Montagne Sainte-Victoire in the commune of Beaurecueil, in the Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation. It was uncovered in 1952 by Raymond Dughi and François Sirugue, respectively curator and assistant curator of the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle Aix-en-Provence. It dates from the Late Cretaceous.[4]
Touristic and educational interest[edit]
The nature reserve can be accessed by the south through the parking lots de Roques-Hautes, de l'Aurigon and du Toscan, served by the D17, or by the north through the road of the Bimont Dam on the commune of Saint-Marc-Jaumegarde, served by the D10.
Access to the Grands-Creux sector is forbidden to the public.
Administration, management plan, regulations[edit]
The nature reserve is managed by the Departmental Council of Bouches-du-Rhône.
Tools and legal status[edit]
The nature reserve was established by decree the 1 March 1994.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ "Sainte-Victoire (FR3600117)". Inventaire national du patrimoine naturel. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ "Sainte-Victoire". Réserves naturelles de France.
- ^ Jonin, Max (2006). Delachaux et Niestlé (ed.). Mémoire de la Terre, Patrimoine géologique français. Lonay (Suisse)/Paris. p. 191. ISBN 2-603-01383-1.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Paul Jourdan (15 December 1973). "Paléontologie". In imprimerie Robert (ed.). Sainte-Victoire Henri Imoucha. Marseille.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Décret n°94-187 du 1 mars 1994 portant création de la réserve naturelle de Sainte-Victoire (Bouches-du-Rhône)". Legifrance.