Year 1 fieldwork The French Alps

1
Year 1 fieldworkThe French Alps

• Modification to the landscape of Briancon, with
  specific referance to economic and industrial
  activities

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Aims

• Identify the modification to the landscape
• Explain how this has affected the type of
  industry in Briancon
• Make referance to the economic growth of the area
  

3
Introduction Briancon

• Junction of 5 valleys
• Close to Italian border
• Highest town in Europe
• Variety of commercial administrative services
• Former garrison town

4
Physical Environment

• Geology
• Briancon is situated in a parabolic valley/
  glacial trough
• Limestone, schist and clay are the predominant
  rocks in the area

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Physical environment 2

• Geomorphology
• Vast glaciers are visible
• Avalanche activity visible on the UBAC slope

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Human Environment

• Vauban- Old town
• hillside fortification
• traditional alpine town buildings and streets
• Honey- pot for tourists

• Lower town- Modern
• Valley floor (flatter)
• industrial and shopping zones
• Army barracks
• Housing in Vauban

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Human environment2Impacts and Conflicts

• Economic impacts
• Modernisation
• Employment opportunities
• Recognition
• Growth
• Bridge joining fortes
• above Briancon

• Conflicts
• Locals Vs tourists
• Conservation in national park Vs skiers, climbers
  etc
• Border region, army route from Italy

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Human Environment3Tourism

• Does not rely on tourism as much as the
  serre-chevalier
• Strong pressure to develop tourism
• Plans for cable car to link the town with
  serre-chevalier for skiing
• Peace without the tourists but need them for the
  economy

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Overall Interactions1

• Flat valley floor- good place to locate industry
• Steep valley sides- good defence mechanism to
  protect from invasion
• Steep glacial slopes- good location for ski
  industries.

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Overall Interactions 2

• National Park peripheral zone- protected area
  used for farming and conservation of wildlife.
• UBAC- south side of the slope which faces north-
  area used for forestry and ski slopes.
• ADRET- North side of the slope facing south- area
  used for housing and building.

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Summary

• Agriculture and military to tourism and light
  industry
• landscape modification- clearing of valley sides
  for ski slopes
• tourism becoming more important. Skiing in the
  winter and climbers, mountain bikers and sight
  seeing in the summer.

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References

• Hinchcliff,S. (1999) Timing and significance of
  talus slope reworking, Trotternish, northern Sky,
  NW Scotland. The Holocene 9, 483-494
• www.briancon.com/infos.htm
• www.geoed.hope.co.uk/Virtualmontana