The Dauphiné Prealps () are a mountain range in the south-western part of the Alps. They are located in Rhône-Alpes and, marginally, in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (south-eastern France). Dauphiné Prealps are the central section of the French Prealps.
Etymology The Dauphiné () is a historical region whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of :Isère, :Drôme, and :Hautes-Alpes.
Geography Administratively the French part of the range belongs to the French departments of Isère, Drôme, Hautes-Alpes and, marginally, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. The whole range is drained by the Rhône river.
SOIUSA classification According to SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the mountain range is an Alpine section, classified in the following way: Main part = Western Alps Major sector = South Western Alps Section = Dauphiné Prealps Code = I/A-6
Borders Dauphiné Prealps' borders are (anticlockwise):
Isère (north); Drac, Col Bayard - which connects them with Dauphiné Alps - and Durance (east) Buëch, Col de Macuègne - which connects them with Provence Alps and prealps - and Toulourenc river (south); Rhone and Isère valleys (west).
Subdivision The Dauphiné Prealps are divided into five Alpine subsections: Dévoluy Mountains - SOIUSA code:I/A-6.I; Massif Céüse-Aujour - SOIUSA code:I/A-6.II; Massif du Vercors - SOIUSA code:I/A-6.III; Massif du Diois - SOIUSA code:I/A-6.IV; Massif des Baronnies - SOIUSA code:I/A-6.V.
Notable summits
Some notable summits of the range are:
Namemetresfeet Grande Tête de l'Obiou 2,790 9,148 Grand Ferrand 2,759 9,049 Pic de Bure 2,709 8,885 Jocou 2,501 8,203 Grand Veymont 2,346 7,694
Notable passes
Some notable passes of the range are: Name location type elevation (m) elevation (ft) Col de la Croix Haute Clelles to Lus-la-Croix-Haute road1,179 3,867 Col Bayard Gap to Grenoble road1,248 4,093 Col du Noyer Le Noyer to Saint-Étienne-en-Dévoluy road1,664 5,458
References
Maps French official cartography (Institut Géographique National - IGN); on-line version: www.geoportail.fr