page_title: Mont Ventoux
section_title: Flora and fauna
hierarchical_section_title: Mont Ventoux / Flora and fauna
caption_attribution_description: from English Wikipedia View of Mont Ventoux from Mirabel-aux-Baronnies. Taken by en:User:Diniz, August 2004
context_page_description: Mont Ventoux is a mountain in the Provence region of Southern France, located some 20 km northeast of Carpentras, Vaucluse. On the north side, the mountain borders the Drôme département. At 1,909 m, it is the highest mountain in the region and has been nicknamed the "Beast of Provence", the "Giant of Provence", or "The Bald Mountain". It has gained fame through its inclusion in the Tour de France cycling race; in 2009 it was the scene of the first penultimate-day mountain top finish in the Tour de France, with Alberto Contador sealing his yellow jersey.
  As the name might suggest, it can get windy at the summit, especially with the mistral; wind speeds as high as 320 km/h have been recorded. The wind blows at over 90 km/h for 240 days a year. The road over the mountain is often closed due to high winds, especially the col des tempêtes just before the summit, which is known for its strong winds. The real origins of the name are thought to trace back to the 1st or 2nd century AD, when it was named Vintur after a Gaulish god of the summits, or Ven-Top, meaning "snowy peak" in the ancient Gallic language. In the 10th century, the names Mons Ventosus and Mons Ventorius appear.
context_section_description: Originally forested, Mont Ventoux was systematically stripped of trees from the 12th century onwards to serve the demands of the shipbuilders of the naval port of Toulon. Some areas have been reforested since 1860 with a variety of hardwood trees (such as holm oaks and beeches) as well as coniferous species, such as Atlas cedars and larches. A little higher, junipers are common.
  The mountain comprises the species boundary or ecotone between the flora and fauna of northern and southern France. Some species, including various types of spiders and butterflies, are unique to Mont Ventoux. It is a good place to spot the short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus).
  Its biological distinctiveness was recognised by UNESCO in 1990 when the Réserve de Biosphère du Mont Ventoux was created, protecting an area of 810 square kilometres (200,150 acres) on and around the mountain.
caption: View of Mont Ventoux from Mirabel-aux-Baronnies
exif: {}