{"id":2274,"date":"2020-06-02T09:16:10","date_gmt":"2020-06-02T09:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.psbernard.com\/la-geographie-du-col\/"},"modified":"2024-06-03T09:58:55","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T09:58:55","slug":"la-geographie-du-col","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.psbernard.com\/en\/la-geographie-du-col\/","title":{"rendered":"The geography of the pass"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1>Geology<\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Info and maps: Gille de Broucker, geologist.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The <span style=\"color: #04ce78;\">Col du Petit St Bernard<\/span> is at the crossroads of <strong>different geological horizons<\/strong> characteristic of <strong>Alpine geology<\/strong> :<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>on the south side (Mont Belved\u00e8re massif), the rocks are <strong>sandstone and conglomerates with flakes of Mica<\/strong>, resulting from the <strong>erosion<\/strong> of a very old chain of mountain (320 Million years)<\/li>\n<li>on the north-west side, the roc de Belleface and the pointe de Lancebranlette are respectively <strong>black limestone<\/strong> and <strong>calcschist<\/strong> formed in the collapse ditches of the <strong>la alpine sea<\/strong> which covered the territory 170 million years ago.<\/li>\n<li>on the northeast side, the Pointe Rousse is <strong>a scale of granite<\/strong> from a <strong>micro-continent<\/strong> (called Brian\u00e7onnais) 267 million years old. It is surrounded by <strong>various rocks<\/strong> (basalts, gneiss, serpentinite, gabbros, etc.), witness to the opening and then the closing of a <strong>small ocean<\/strong> (the Valais ocean) 80 million years ago.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This diversity of rocks, both acidic and basic, induces a beautiful plant diversity in this sector of alpine meadows.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=&#8221;759&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; onclick=&#8221;link_image&#8221; qode_css_animation=&#8221;element_from_bottom&#8221;][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1>Natural spaces<\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]At <strong>2200 m altitude<\/strong>, the Petit Saint Bernard plateau is a remarkable <strong>wetland<\/strong>. Various ecological factors contribute to this: <strong>glacial modeling<\/strong>, nature of the <strong>terrain<\/strong>, origin of the <strong>rocks<\/strong>, presence of <strong>water<\/strong> ( streams, lakes, bogs and marshes), <strong>climatic conditions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, a large part of the <strong>plateau is classified<\/strong> &#8220;<span style=\"color: #04ce78;\">Natura 2000<\/span>\u201d and <strong>protected<\/strong>. There are remarkable species such as the <strong>Arctic rush<\/strong> and the <strong>Bicolor sedge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3 remarkable lakes<\/strong> are located within walking distance of the pass: <strong>Lac Longet<\/strong>, <strong>Lac sans fond<\/strong> and <strong>Lac Verney. (See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psbernard.com\/en\/circuits-de-randonnees\/\">discovery trail<\/a>)<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;877&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; onclick=&#8221;link_image&#8221; qode_css_animation=&#8221;element_from_bottom&#8221; qode_hover_animation=&#8221;zoom_in&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1>Climatic particularity of the pass<\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]The <strong>Haute Tarentaise<\/strong> is under the influence of an <span style=\"color: #04ce78;\">intra-alpine climate<\/span> which is characterized by a relative <strong>basic drought of valley<\/strong>. This feature is accentuated by the presence of the Petit St Bernard pass. In fact, when a <strong>low pressure<\/strong> system is present on the <strong>Mediterranean<\/strong>, it generates a <strong>foehn effect<\/strong>: humid air masses arrive on the Italian side and collide with the mountains. The air cools and humidifies, it becomes saturated, <strong>precipitation accumulates at altitude<\/strong>. Crossing the pass, the air rushes down and heats up. At the bottom of the valley, &#8220;downwind&#8221; blows a turbulent, dry and hot wind, the foehn, also called &#8220;the oura&#8221; or &#8220;the St Bernard&#8221; by the inhabitants of the Tarentaise.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1>Pastoral life on both sides of the border<\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]The first <strong>ceutron and salasse tribes<\/strong> were already <strong>shepherds<\/strong> and <strong>pastoralism<\/strong> is a very old <strong>tradition<\/strong> on both sides. other from the collar. The habit of <strong>herding the herds on the Alpe<\/strong> in summer is the highlight of pastoral life. The word &#8220;alpe&#8221; (or alp, arp, aup..) comes from the <strong>Celtic language<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Over time, on both sides of the valleys, the appropriation of the <strong>alpages<\/strong> evolved to lead to the <strong>3 main types<\/strong> that still exist today: mountain possessed in common, communal mountain or private mountain.<\/p>\n<p>Life in the mountain pastures is punctuated by movements, <strong>movement of men and herds<\/strong> according to fodder resources, which is done in stages from spring to late autumn. From St Jean to St Michel, <strong>men and herds<\/strong> find themselves in the &#8220;big mountain&#8221; in the high mountain pastures.<\/p>\n<p>A <strong>cheese tradition<\/strong>, based on mountain pasture milk, has existed for a very long time in Valdigne and Haute-Tarentaise. Even today, the inhabitants of these valleys value milk by making their own specialties: <strong>fontine and Beaufort cheese<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>On the livestock side, there are <strong>tarines and abundance<\/strong> on the French side, for the production of Beaufort, and <strong>red and black Pie<\/strong> on the Italian side for fontina.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;770&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; onclick=&#8221;link_image&#8221; qode_css_animation=&#8221;element_from_bottom&#8221; qode_hover_animation=&#8221;zoom_in&#8221;][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2>The feast of the shepherds and its fights of queens<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/5&#8243;][vc_column_text]Every year, at the end of August, <span style=\"color: #04ce78;\">the festival of the shepherds<\/span> took place on the pass. On this occasion, <strong>queen fights<\/strong> take place.<\/p>\n<p>Cows have a <strong>spontaneously combative behavior<\/strong> between them, which is expressed within the <strong>herds<\/strong>. This releases their aggressiveness and <strong>will to power<\/strong>. Little by little, fights are set up by the breeders for their pleasures. In 1947, after the vicissitudes of the war, the Aosta Valley sought to promote the old traditions of the region, which they had inhibited during the fascist period and a group of breeders organized the first games in Aosta. The fights became popular with the organization of playoffs in each valley. In each category, <strong>the winner receives a beautiful leather necklace<\/strong> with the <strong>large bell finely worked by hand<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/5&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;773&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; onclick=&#8221;link_image&#8221; qode_css_animation=&#8221;element_from_bottom&#8221; qode_hover_animation=&#8221;zoom_in&#8221;][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]The principle of these fights is quite simple: the cow that stops fighting loses&#8230;!<\/p>\n<p>These fights have a real economic impact, both for the owners of the cows, as well as for the selection of breeds and the promotion of agriculture geared towards tourism and trade.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1>Winter sports<\/h1>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Although <strong>closed in winter<\/strong>, the pass is at the heart of a <strong>vast Franco-Italian ski area<\/strong>, <span style=\"color: #04ce78;\">the space San Bernardo<\/span>: <strong>160 km of slopes<\/strong> with an <strong>exceptional panorama<\/strong> over the Mont-Blanc massif and 2 ski resorts: La Rosi\u00e8re and La Thuile d&#8217;Aoste .<\/p>\n<p>The wind and the open, flat terrain also allow <strong>kite-skiing and kite-surfing<\/strong>, which are increasingly popular. <a href=\"https:\/\/letskite.ch\/spots\/78\/snowkite\/col-du-petit-st-bernard\/\">Discover kite-skiing and kite-surfing!<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space]<a  itemprop=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/letskite.ch\/spots\/78\/snowkite\/col-du-petit-st-bernard\/\" target=\"_self\"  class=\"qbutton  default\" style=\"\">Kiteboarding<\/a>[vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;780&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; onclick=&#8221;link_image&#8221; qode_css_animation=&#8221;element_from_bottom&#8221; qode_hover_animation=&#8221;zoom_in&#8221;][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;1138&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; onclick=&#8221;link_image&#8221; qode_css_animation=&#8221;element_from_bottom&#8221; qode_hover_animation=&#8221;zoom_in&#8221;][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;779&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; onclick=&#8221;link_image&#8221; qode_css_animation=&#8221;element_from_bottom&#8221; qode_hover_animation=&#8221;zoom_in&#8221;][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row css_animation=&#8221;&#8221; row_type=&#8221;row&#8221; use_row_as_full_screen_section=&#8221;no&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; angled_section=&#8221;no&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; background_image_as_pattern=&#8221;without_pattern&#8221;][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text] Geology [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Info and maps: Gille de Broucker, geologist. &nbsp; The Col du Petit St Bernard is at the crossroads of different geological horizons characteristic of Alpine geology : &nbsp; on the south side (Mont Belved\u00e8re massif), the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2274","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.psbernard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.psbernard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.psbernard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.psbernard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.psbernard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2274"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.psbernard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2452,"href":"https:\/\/www.psbernard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2274\/revisions\/2452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.psbernard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}