Dauphiné Prealps
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. 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 Rhone river.
SOIUSA classification
According to SOIUSA 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
- Isère ;
- Drac, Col Bayard - which connects them with Dauphiné Alps - and Durance
- Buëch, Col de Macuègne - which connects them with Provence Alps and prealps - and Toulourenc river ;
- Rhone and Isère valleys.
Subdivision
- 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
| Name | metres | feet |
| 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 | elevation |
| Col de la Croix Haute | Clelles to Lus-la-Croix-Haute | road | 1,179 | 3,867 |
| Col Bayard | Gap to Grenoble | road | 1,248 | 4,093 |
| Col du Noyer | Le Noyer to Saint-Étienne-en-Dévoluy | road | 1,664 | 5,458 |
Maps
- French official cartography ; on-line version: