Loop 54 - Les Pinées

The Cheminées de Fée (fairy chimneys), also known as the demoiselles coiffées, are a reminder of the presence of ancient glaciers that long-since disappeared: these moraines, made up of sand, gravel and poorly cemented blocks of rock, were glacial deposits that eroded over time. A block of hard rock protects the softer underlying conglomerate from erosion by run-off.

This is a medium-sized migratory bird, identifiable by its «cuckoo» call heard between April and July in woods and open spaces.The females seek out the nests of small passerine birds and when she finds a nest with eggs in it, she eats one of them and lays another in its place. In the parasitised nest, the cuckoo chick hatches first and ejects the other eggs from the nest so that it is raised, alone, by its adoptive parents

Present all the way along the trail, the purpose of this canal is to irrigate the valleys. It is essential for farmers for the maintenance of their fields. This system enables 64 hectares of land to be irrigated. It was dug in the eighteenth century and is 5.5 kilometres long. In 1827, following significant damage caused by landslides, regulations were introduced to ensure that the canals were maintained as a collective effort.

This plateau is representative of glaciofluvial terraces. They form a tabular promontory, bounded by vertical walls formed in the cemented glaciofluvial materials, at the foot of which the Le Rabioux mountain stream flows on one side and the Durance on the other. This glacial rock is a typical formation of the Haute-Durance valley, similar to the Roc d'Embrun or that of Mont-Dauphine. Its formation dates back to one of the last ice ages (100,000 years ago). At that time, the Durance glacier occupied the entire valley. Today, on its sedimentary rock base, the Roc is covered by vegetation which is highly characteristic of steppe grasslands.

The red kite is a medium-sized bird of prey with a wingspan of up to 1.6 metres. In flight, the red kite can easily be recognised by its slender silhouette and its deeply forked tail. It has contrasting russet-brown and white plumage. Its diet is a relatively eclectic, made up of rodents, reptiles and invertebrates. It is also a willing scavenger. It is for this reason that red kites can sometimes be seen in large number near landfill sites, and often in the company of black kites.

This small chapel stands on a rocky plateau overlooking the confluence of the rivers Durance and Rabioux. It was constructed with pebbles from the Durance and is roofed with stone slabs. « It must once have served as a waypoint for pilgrims from Italy making their way to Santiago de Compostella. They would take shelter here, pause for a while and gather their strength for the rest of their journey. Today, this chapel is no longer used for religious celebrations.» Monique MAYNé