The Maritime Alps ( ; ) are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and the Italian regions of Piedmont and Liguria. They are the southernmost part of the Alps.
Geography Administratively the range is divided between the Italian provinces of Cuneo and Imperia (eastern slopes) and the French department of Alpes-Maritimes (western slopes).
The Maritime Alps are drained by the rivers Roya, Var and Verdon and their tributaries on the French side; by the Stura di Demonte and other tributaries of the Tanaro and Po on the Italian side.
The mountain range is home many small perched villages, such as Belvédère, located at the entrance to the Gordolasque valley. In many of these villages, churches decorated with murals and altarpieces by primitive Niçois painters can be found.
Borders The borders of the Maritime Alps are as follows (clockwise): Vermenagna creek, Col de Tende - which connects them with the Ligurian Alps - and Roya (east); Mediterranean Sea and Var valley (south) Verdon, Col d'Allos - which connects them with Provence Alps and Prealps - and Ubaye (west); Maddalena Pass (which connects them with the Cottian Alps) and Stura di Demonte (north).
Peaks The main peaks of the Maritime Alps are: Name ElevationMonte Argentera 3,297 m Monte Stella 3,262 m Cima Genova 3,191 m Cime du Gélas 3,135 m Cima di Nasta 3,108 m Monte Matto 3,097 m Cima del Baus 3,067 m Mont Pelat 3,053 m Mont Clapier 3,046 m Mont Ténibre 3,032 m Enciastraia 2,955 mMont Bégo 2,872 m Mont Mounier 2,818 m Roche de l'Abisse 2,755 mMonte Grammondo 1,378 m
Mountain passes
The chief passes of the Maritime Alps are: Name Location Type Elevation Col de la Bonette Tinée Valley to Barcelonnette Road (minor loop climbs to 2,802 m) 2715 Col de Restefond Col de la Bonette to Barcelonnette Road 2680 Bassa di Druos Tinée Valley to Terme di Valdieri Bridle path 2630 Colle di Ciriegia Saint-Martin-Vésubie to Terme di Valdieri Bridle path 2551 Col des Granges Communes Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée to Barcelonnette Bridle path 2512 Col de Pourriac Tinee Valley to Argentera Footpath 2506Colle di Guercia Tinee Valley to Vinadio Footpath 2451 Col de la Lombarde Isola to Vinadio Road 2350 Col de la Cayolle Var River valley to Barcelonnette Road 2327 Col du Sabion Tende to Valdieri Bridle path 2264 Col d'Allos Verdon River valley to Barcelonnette Road 2250Maddalena Pass Barcelonnette to Cuneo Road 1995 Col de Tende Tende to Cuneo Road, road tunnel Railway tunnel 1873 Col de Turini Vésubie river valley to Sospel Road 1607
Nature conservation
The French Mercantour National Park (central area:68,500 ha + peripheral area:140,000 ha) Le Parc national du Mercantour, www.vesubian.com (accessed on April 2012) is part of the Maritime Alps as well as the Maritime Alps Natural Park, an Italian regional nature park of 28,455 ha.Parco delle Alpi Marittime, web-site of the park on www.parks.it (accessed on April 2012)
References
Maps Italian official cartography (Istituto Geografico Militare - IGM); on-line version: www.pcn.minambiente.it French official cartography (Institut Géographique National - IGN); on-line version: www.geoportail.fr
es:Alpes Marítimos y prealpes de Niza it:Alpi Marittime e Prealpi di Nizza