Classified since 1998 for its exceptional landscape, the Platé desert attracts thanks to its extraordinary appearance.
All you need to know about the Platé desert ?
The Platé desert is a vast and very extensive plateau where the geology, fauna and flora are exceptional. This impressive geological curiosity in Haute-Savoie, in Flaine, faces Mont-Blanc. This limestone expanse of 1980 hectares is composed mostly of lapiaz, shaped by glaciers and sculpted by meltwater. Namely, that it is the largest lapiaz in Europe.
The limestone rocks that compose it were formed by the oceans and eventually rose following the rise of the Alps. The Platé desert culminates at more than 2500 meters above sea level. The grounds of this massif contain many fossils, witnesses of the different environments that have succeeded each other throughout its history.
The fauna and flora are very rich there: an original and colorful high altitude flora including some rare and protected species and an equally varied fauna composed of ibexes, marmots, ermines, hares and ptarmigans that evolve around the lapies.
The Platé desert offers a lunar setting that surprises and amazes.
How to access the Platé desert ?
The Platé desert is only accessible on foot, which earned it its name "desert" and has many hiking trails. You can choose from several circuits, depending on the length of your stay and your level:
From Flaine, on foot (about 3 hours walk) or by taking the Grandes Platières cable car to make the round trip during the day without getting tired.
From Samoëns on foot via the GR96 in 2 days of walking.
From Sallanches on foot, via the Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc and the Assy plateau.
From Servoz, via the Passage du Dérochoir.
From Chamonix by going up the GR5 in 2 days of walking.
Once you arrive at the Platé desert, you can observe the extraordinary view of Mont-Blanc.
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