Lake Sainte Marguerite

The red squirrel or Eurasian squirrel is an arboreal, diurnal rodent. As its name suggests, it can be found over much of the Eurasian continent, but is nonetheless one of the key species in French coniferous and mixed forests. It weighs an average of 600 grams and measures 18 to 20 cm plus a tail of 16 to 20 cm. Its colour varies from reddish to brownish-black, but its belly is always white. It spends much of its life stocking up on food, seeds or acorns, in preparation for winter. In fact, it does not hibernate and only slows down during this period. Squirrels lead solitary lives and only meet other squirrels when they are breeding. The threat of the grey squirrel, which was imported from North America, is better adapted to deciduous forests and carries a deadly virus for its cousin, is worsening in Europe and could soon spread to the Alps.

This centuries-old sheepfold was first restored in 1755 during Jean Francois Gautier's term as mayor of Les Orres, after whom it was named, and once again in 2009 after withstanding more than two centuries of weathering. The floor of the sheepfold was laid using the traditional "standing timber" technique. Small, debarked trunks 12 cm high are held vertically by crushed gravel between the trunks.

Lake Sainte Marguerite lake lies in the high Eysalette valley, surrounded by peaks that almost form an amphitheatre, with the Pic Silhourais and the Alpe de Verdun mountain rising above them. This exceptional setting is complemented by the rich fauna of the lake, which promises a great catch for anglers, particularly the Brown trout, which can also be found in the Eysalettes torrent, which rises in the lake.

The Alpine Pasqueflower is common in the department. This anemone is found in lawns and undergrowth. Its fruits are achenes, meaning that they do not open. It is a dry fruit that is not intended to be eaten by animals. This means they colonise environments on the wind, which carries them from one place to another.

The larch, which can be seen throughout the walk, is a very special tree. Although a member of the Pinaceae family, like Cedar, Fir, Pine and Spruce, it is the only conifer whose needles change colour and fall off in autumn. A mountain tree par excellence, it grows at altitudes of between 1200 and 2400m, where it is generally accompanied only by the Swiss Pine. Its light green, airy foliage lets the sun's rays through and its undergrowth is often rich in geraniums or orchids. It has a straight, smooth trunk that splits into plates as it gets higher. Its bark tends towards grey and reddish brown and its branches lean downwards like those of the Epicea. Its needles are grouped in clusters of 20 or 40 on short branches and measure about 3cm.