In the heart of the Prads forest in Haute-Bléone, exceptional larch trees can reach a girth of six meters.
Prads-Haute-Bléone is a very large commune, and forests cover a large part of its territory. They contain several exceptional trees, including the Chourges larch. Considering that they grow on a north-facing slope, at an altitude of 1800 m, their growth must have been quite slow, and they are certainly several centuries old. Coring the trunks would be the only way to determine their age, but it could endanger the trees.
Due to lightning strikes or snow, these trees often branch out very low down, which has limited their ability to provide planks or beams. This may explain why they have been present for so long in a logging area. Unless they have been preserved as seed-bearing trees to repopulate the area after clear-cutting.
Due to lightning strikes or snow, these trees often branch out very low down, which has limited their ability to provide planks or beams. This may explain why they have been present for so long in a logging area. Unless they have been preserved as seed-bearing trees to repopulate the area after clear-cutting.
Location
Location
Spoken languages
Spoken languages
