Luberon Valley and Ochre Cliffs of Southeastern France

August 14, 2012

LuberonIMG_4631 (2)

Photographer
: Marissa Jones
Summary Author: Marissa Jones; Jim Foster
 
Luberon Valley and Ochre Cliffs 2Shown above is the scenic Luberon Valley of the Provence region in southeastern France, as viewed from the village of Gordes. Vineyards, wheat fields and olive trees are all abundant here. In the hills flanking the valley, limestone and calcareous sandstone and clays dominate, principally from the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous periods. The photo at left shows an ochre ridge (dating from the Paleocene epoch) that provided the clay for the red-hued buildings of the village of Roussillon. Ochre quarries were mined through the early 1900s. During World War II, Gordes was known for its strong resistance movement. Peter Mayle's book “A Year in Provence” and others in the same vein have inspired numerous tourists to visit the Provence region. Photos taken in July 2012.

Photo details: Top - Camera Maker: Canon; Camera Model: Canon PowerShot SX230 HS; Focal Length: 5mm; Aperture: f/4.0; Exposure Time: 0.0006 s (1/1600);ISO equiv: 200; Exposure Bias: none; Metering Mode: Matrix; White Balance: Auto; Flash Fired: No (enforced); Orientation: Normal. Inset - same except: Exposure Time: 0.0025 s (1/400); ISO equiv: 320.