France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, a right tributary to the
Durance
The Durance (; ''Durença'' in the Occitan classical norm or ''Durènço'' in the Mistralian norm) is a major river in Southeastern France. A left tributary of the Rhône, it is long. Its drainage basin is .Bassin versant : Clarée (La) Observatoire Régional Eau et Milieux Aquatiques en PACA Its source is in the
Cottian Alps
The Cottian Alps (; french: Alpes Cottiennes ; it, Alpi Cozie ) are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between France (Hautes-Alpes and Savoie) and Italy (Piedmont). The Fréjus Road Tunnel and Fréjus Rai ...
, near
Mont Thabor
Mont Thabor is a mountain of Savoie and Hautes-Alpes, France. It lies in the Massif des Cerces range. It has an elevation of 3,178 metres above sea level, it stands close to another summit, the Pic du Thabor
The Pic du Thabor is a mountain of ...
and
Valloire
Valloire (; frp, Valouère, ) is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
The ski resort Valloire-Galibier is located in the commune, at the foot of the Col du Télégraphe and next to th ...
. It flows for all of its course in the
Hautes-Alpes
Hautes-Alpes (; oc, Auts Aups; en, Upper Alps) is a department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. It is located in the heart of the French Alps, after which it is named. Hautes-Alpes had a population of 141,220 ...
department. Its confluence with the Durance is near the hamlet of Les Alberts not far from the source of the Durance in the ski resort of Montgenevre.
The upper reaches of the river are in a military exercise range. This is where the French army from their base in
Briançon
Briançon (, ) is the sole Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Hautes-Alpes Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region in Southeastern France. It is the highest city in France at an a ...
train in the mountains.
Tourism
In the summer the
Vallée de la Clarée
The Vallée de la Clarée is a scenic valley in the French Alps near to Montgenèvre, Briançon and the French-Italian border. The Clarée river runs through the valley.
The mountains on either side are part of the Massif des Cerces. To the west t ...
is visited by cyclists, walkers and horse riders. The river is used for water sports especially in spring as the snow melts. There are sections of white water, which are used by kayaks and white water rafts. There is a dramatic waterfall at Fontcouverte.
Settlements
The settlements along the Clarée include:
*
Névache
Névache (; oc, Nevascha ) is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.
Geography
It is situated in the Vallée de la Clarée.
Climate
Névache has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification ''Dfb''). T ...
:
* Plampinet
* Le Serre
*
Val-des-Prés
Val-des-Prés (; oc, Vau dels Prats) is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.
It is situated in the Clarée Valley.
Population
Personalities
The village was the home of Émilie Carles who wrote her memoir ''A Wil ...
* Le Rosier
* Les Alberts
See also
*
Vallée de la Clarée
The Vallée de la Clarée is a scenic valley in the French Alps near to Montgenèvre, Briançon and the French-Italian border. The Clarée river runs through the valley.
The mountains on either side are part of the Massif des Cerces. To the west t ...