Taillefer massif

The Taillefer massif (French: Massif du Taillefer) are a massif in the French Alps located in the Isère department.

Taillefer massif
Highest point
Elevation	2,857 m (9,373 ft)
Parent peak	Le Taillefer
Naming
Native name	Massif du Taillefer (French)
Geography
The massif is between the Vercors massif and Massif des Écrins
Country	France
Department	Isère
Region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Parent range	Dauphiné Alps

Geography

Location

The massif extends southwest of the Belledonne range and is located northwest of the Écrins massif, north of the Dévoluy massif, and east of the Vercors. It is bordered by the Drac, Romanche, Lignarre, and Malsanne rivers.^[1] The plateau Matheysin, along with the surrounding peaks, occupies the western half. The northeastern part, known as Plateau des Lacs, is dotted with mountain lakes such as Veche, Agneau, Noir, Culasson, and Fourchu. The northeastern fringe, encompassing the Lignarre and Romanche watersheds, belongs to the Oisans region.

The massif is classified as a Natura 2000 site, featuring 19 habitats of community interest.^[2]

Main peaks

The massif consists of three parallel chains oriented north-south and arranged from east to west.

In the eastern chain (east of the Roizonne), which is the highest with ten peaks exceeding 2,500 meters, notable peaks include:

• Le Taillefer, the highest point, 2,857 m
• La Pyramide, 2,838 m
• Le Grand Armet, 2,792 m
• Pointe de l'Armet, 2,780 m
• Rocher du Lac, 2,776 m
• Les Mayes, 2,695 m
• Le Coiro, 2,607 m
• Le Grand Vent, 2,601 m
• Le Grand Galbert, 2,561 m
• Tête de la Grisonnière, 2,545 m
• Le Cornillon, 2,475 m
• La Cime Chalvine, 2,285 m
• Pointe de l'Aiguille, 2,283 m
• L'Étillier, 2,196 m
• Le Grand Serre, 2,141 m
• Le Pérollier, 2,183 m
• Le Grand Vent, 2,149 m
• L'Oreille du Loup, 2,291 m
• Le Tabor, the highest point of the central chain, 2,389 m

Geology

The Taillefer massif is predominantly a crystalline massif, similar to the Belledonne, to which it serves as an extension.^[3] In contrast, the western chain of Sénépy and the Conest mountain consists of slightly clayey limestones from the Lower Lias period. Additionally, the western flank features outcrops of calcschists from the Upper Lias period.^[4]