Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura (Jura Mountains Regional Natural Park) is a French regional natural park located in the southwest of the Jura Mountain Range

Jura mountains

The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...

in France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, on the French-Swiss border.

Park description

The park was created February 10, 1986 and at that time comprised 37 towns. As of 2005, that count is now 113 towns, with a total population of 71,000 inhabitants. The park covers an area of 165,000 hectares across three French departments: Ain

Ain

Ain is a department named after the Ain River on the eastern edge of France. Being part of the region Rhône-Alpes and bordered by the rivers Saône and Rhône, the department of Ain enjoys a privileged geographic situation...

, Doubs

Doubs

Doubs is a department the Franche-Comté region of eastern France named after the Doubs River.-History:As early as the 13th century, inhabitants of the northern two-thirds of Doubs spoke the Franc-Comtois language, a dialect of Langue d'Oïl. Residents of the southern third of Doubs spoke a dialect...

and Jura.

Entry towns (ville-portes) situated at the park boundaries are not actually part of the park themselves, but due to their geographic locations are important points of entry into the park. These towns are Divonne-les-Bains

Divonne-les-Bains

Divonne-les-Bains, is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.It is a popular spa town.Divonne lies on the border with French-speaking Switzerland, between the foot of the Jura mountains and Lake Geneva. Geneva itself is 20 minutes away on the Swiss autoroute to the south-west...

, Gex

Gex, Ain

Gex is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.It lies from the Swiss border and from Geneva. It is a sous-préfecture of Ain.-History:...

, Bellegarde-sur-Valserine

Bellegarde-sur-Valserine

Bellegarde-sur-Valserine is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Geography:Bellegarde is located at the confluence of the Valserine and the Rhône....

, Champagnole

Champagnole

Champagnole is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-Geography:Champagnole has the publicity tag of "Pearl of the Jura" and is a small town at the geographical centre of Jura tourism. It stands on the right bank of the young River Ain at the foot of Mont Rivel...

, and the Community of Communes of Oyonnax

Oyonnax

Oyonnax is a commune in the Ain department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France.It is the second largest commune in the department. Its residents are known as Oyonnaxiens.-Population:-Miscellaneous:...

(the latter two not having territory within the park's perimeter).

Park administration

The park is managed by a bureau composed of a president, nine vice presidents, and twelve members. It is not managed according to geographic entities but rather according to five thematic ones:

helping to preserve the natural environment and the biotope
Biotope
Biotope is an area of uniform environmental conditions providing a living place for a specific assemblage of plants and animals. Biotope is almost synonymous with the term habitat, but while the subject of a habitat is a species or a population, the subject of a biotope is a biological community.It...

s through sustainable development;
preservation of the rural aspect of the park through support for hand-crafted artistic and agricultural activities, preservation of the forestry's cultural heritage
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...

and incentives for using the timber for construction;
improvement and modernization of industrial and traditional hand-crafted activities in order to maintain them in the park;
promotion of summer and winter tourist activities within the park and promotion of the image of the Jura Mountains;
cooperation and coordination between the park's caretakers and its inhabitants towards the above objectives.

Member communes and associated communes

There are currently 105 towns, or communes, that are members of the regional park, of which 25 are in Ain

Ain

, 12 are in Doubs

Doubs

and 67 are in the Department of Jura.

There are also 5 associated communes (listed below in italics), one in Doubs and 4 in Jura.

The 4 communes that remain in the total count are three entry towns that have part of the town in the park (Divonne-les-Bains

Divonne-les-Bains

, Gex

Gex, Ain

Gex is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.It lies from the Swiss border and from Geneva. It is a sous-préfecture of Ain.-History:...

and Bellegarde-sur-Valserine

Bellegarde-sur-Valserine

Bellegarde-sur-Valserine is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Geography:Bellegarde is located at the confluence of the Valserine and the Rhône....

, and the town of Champagnole

Champagnole

, which is also an entry town, but is entirely outside of the park.

style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em" | Department of Ain
Cantons	Communes that are members or are associated (in italics)
The 5 communes of the Canton of Bellegarde-sur-Valserine	Bellegarde-sur-Valserine Bellegarde-sur-Valserine Bellegarde-sur-Valserine is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Geography:Bellegarde is located at the confluence of the Valserine and the Rhône.... , Champfromier Champfromier Champfromier is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:... , Giron, Montanges Montanges Montanges is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:... , Saint-Germain-de-Joux Saint-Germain-de-Joux Saint-Germain-de-Joux is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
The 8 communes of the Canton of Collonges	Chézery-Forens Chézery-Forens Chézery-Forens is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:-References:... , Collonges Collonges, Ain Collonges is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France. Just outside the village is Fort l'Écluse.-Population:... , Confort Confort Confort is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:... , Farges Farges Farges is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.... , Léaz Léaz Léaz is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-References:... , Péron, Pougny Pougny, Ain Pougny is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.It lies near the border with Switzerland and is the first French village to be crossed by the Rhone, and a hydro-electric station constructed in 1926 which it shares with the Swiss village of Chancy is named after it.-Population:... , Saint-Jean-de-Gonville Saint-Jean-de-Gonville Saint-Jean-de-Gonville is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
The 2 communes of the Canton of Ferney-Voltaire	Sergy Sergy, Ain Sergy is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-History:At the time of Roman occupation under Julius Caesar, a certain Sergius was rewarded with land - over time a small village developed around his home. Sergy was under Roman control for 464 years.In the Middle Ages, the Sergier... , Thoiry Thoiry, Ain Thoiry is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:...
The 8 communes of the Canton of Gex	Crozet Crozet, Ain Crozet is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.Crozet is nestled at the foot of the Jura mountains in eastern France several miles from the Swiss city of Geneva and a bit less than from the French city of Lyon... , Divonne-les-Bains Divonne-les-Bains Divonne-les-Bains, is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.It is a popular spa town.Divonne lies on the border with French-speaking Switzerland, between the foot of the Jura mountains and Lake Geneva. Geneva itself is 20 minutes away on the Swiss autoroute to the south-west... , Échenevex Échenevex Échenevex is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Geography:Échenevex is located between the Jura mountains and the Lake Geneva region. It is situated at the foot of the mountains, just 3 km south of Gex.-Population:-References:... , Gex Gex, Ain Gex is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.It lies from the Swiss border and from Geneva. It is a sous-préfecture of Ain.-History:... , Grilly Grilly Grilly is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:... , Lélex Lélex Lélex is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:-References:... , Mijoux Mijoux Mijoux is a commune and village in the Ain department in eastern France.-Geography:The village is situated in the upper section of the narrow Valserine valley, nestled between high limestone cliffs to the south-east that form the first anticline of the Jura mountains and the edge of the Lajoux... , Vesancy Vesancy Vesancy is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:...
The 2 communes of the Canton d'Oyonnax-Nord	Belleydoux Belleydoux Belleydoux is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Geography:Belleydoux is situated at the southernmost end of the Hautes-Combes in the Jura mountains, and lies in the Semine valley, a tributary of the Rhône via the Valserine river. The village is overlooked by the Roche Fauconnière... , Dortan Dortan Dortan is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:...

style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em" | Department of Doubs
Cantons	Communes that are members or are associated (in italics)
The 13 communes of the Canton of Mouthe	Brey-et-Maison-du-Bois Brey-et-Maison-du-Bois Brey-et-Maison-du-Bois is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.- Population:-References:... , Chapelle-des-Bois Chapelle-des-Bois Chapelle-des-Bois is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-References:... , Châtelblanc Châtelblanc Châtelblanc is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-External links:* * ... , Chaux-Neuve Chaux-Neuve Chaux-Neuve is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-References:... , Gellin Gellin Gellin is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:... , Le Crouzet Le Crouzet Le Crouzet is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-References:... , Les Pontets Les Pontets Les Pontets is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Geography:The commune lies northeast of Mouthe in the valley of Combes Derniers. It is dominated by the Haute Joux, with the peaks of Turchet and Saint Sorlin , from which there is a view of the... , Les Villedieu Les Villedieu Les Villedieu is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-References:... , Mouthe Mouthe Mouthe is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Geography:The village is located south of Pontarlier in the Jura Mountains on the Swiss border. The source of the Doubs River is from Mouthe. In Mouthe was recorded the lowest temperature ever in France... , Petite-Chaux Petite-Chaux Petite-Chaux is a commune in the Doubs département in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-References:... , Reculfoz Reculfoz Reculfoz is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-References:... , Rondefontaine Rondefontaine Rondefontaine is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Geography:Rondefontaine lies from Mouthe in a narrow valley on a plateau. It has a magnificent view of the Remoray and Saint-Point lakes, the Jura mountains, and Switzerland.-Population:-External... , Sarrageois Sarrageois Sarrageois is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-External links:*...

style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em" | Department of Jura
Cantons	Communes that are members or are associated (in italics)
The 11 communes of the Canton of Les Bouchoux	Bellecombe Bellecombe Bellecombe is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Choux Choux Choux is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Coiserette Coiserette Coiserette is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Coyrière Coyrière Coyrière is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , La Pesse La Pesse La Pesse is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was 263.The estimate for 2007 was 334.-References:... , Larrivoire Larrivoire Larrivoire is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Les Bouchoux Les Bouchoux Les Bouchoux is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Les Moussières Les Moussières Les Moussières is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Rogna Rogna Rogna is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Viry Viry, Jura Viry is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.- References :... , Vulvoz Vulvoz Vulvoz is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.- References :*...
The 16 communes of the Canton of Moirans-en-Montagne	Chancia Chancia For the Cambrian trilobite genus, see Chancia .Chancia is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Charchilla Charchilla Charchilla is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Châtel-de-Joux Châtel-de-Joux Châtel-de-Joux is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Coyron Coyron Coyron is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Crenans Crenans Crenans is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Étival-les-Ronchaux, Jeurre Jeurre Jeurre is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Lect Lect, Jura Lect is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Les Crozets Les Crozets Les Crozets is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Maisod Maisod Maisod is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Martigna Martigna Martigna is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Meussia Meussia Meussia is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.- References :... , Moirans-en-Montagne Moirans-en-Montagne Moirans-en-Montagne is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.- References :... , Montcusel Montcusel Montcusel is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.- References :... , Pratz Pratz, Jura Pratz is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was 453.The estimate for 2004 was 554.-References:... , Villards-d'Héria Villards-d'Héria Villards-d'Héria is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.- References :*...
The 9 communes of the Canton of Morez Canton of Morez Morez is a canton in the département of Jura, France. It is known primarily for the manufacture of spectacles in its chief town, also called Morez. It belongs to the Arrondissement of Saint-Claude.It is composed of 9 communes:* Bellefontaine* Bois-d'Amont...	Bellefontaine Bellefontaine, Jura Bellefontaine is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Bois-d'Amont Bois-d'Amont Bois-d'Amont is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , La Mouille La Mouille La Mouille is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Les Rousses Les Rousses Les Rousses is a commune in the Jura département in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.Lac des Rousses is located on the territory of the commune.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was .The estimate for 2006 was .-Tourism:... , Lézat Lézat Lézat is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Longchaumois Longchaumois Longchaumois is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Morbier Morbier Morbier is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.From 1680 to 1920, Morbier was with Morez the center of Comtoise clock production.- Demographics :- References :... , Morez Morez Morez is a commune of the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.The town is mostly known for the manufacture of spectacles. From 1680 to 1920, Morez was with Morbier the center of Comtoise clock production.- References :... , Prémanon Prémanon Prémanon is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Tancua Tancua Tancua is a village in the French department of Jura in the region of Franche-Comté. Formerly a separate municipality, it was merged with Morbier on 1 January 2007. Its inhabitants are known as Quewans.... (rattaché à Morez)
The 5 communes of the Canton of Planches-en-Montagne	Chaux-des-Crotenay Chaux-des-Crotenay Chaux-des-Crotenay is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Entre-deux-Monts Entre-deux-Monts Entre-deux-Monts is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.- References :... , Foncine-le-Bas Foncine-le-Bas Foncine-le-Bas is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.- References :... , Foncine-le-Haut Foncine-le-Haut Foncine-le-Haut is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.- References :... , Les Planches-en-Montagne Les Planches-en-Montagne Les Planches-en-Montagne is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was 128.The estimate for 2005 was 148.-References:*...
The 19 communes of the Canton of Saint-Claude	Avignon-lès-Saint-Claude Avignon-lès-Saint-Claude Avignon-lès-Saint-Claude is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Chassal Chassal Chassal is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Cuttura Cuttura Cuttura is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.- References :... , La Rixouse La Rixouse La Rixouse is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was 215.The estimate for 2007 was 207.-References:... , Lajoux, Lamoura Lamoura Lamoura is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Lavancia-Epercy Lavancia-Épercy Lavancia-Épercy is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Lavans-lès-Saint-Claude Lavans-lès-Saint-Claude Lavans-lès-Saint-Claude is a commune in the Jura département in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-Sport:Lavans-lès-Saint-Claude is the home of Championnat de France Amateurs club, Jura Sud Lavans.-Personalities linked to the commune:... , Les Molunes Les Molunes Les Molunes is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Leschères Leschères Leschères is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Molinges Molinges Molinges is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.- References :... , Ponthoux Ponthoux Ponthoux is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Ravilloles Ravilloles Ravilloles is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was 404.The estimate for 2004 was 464.-References:... , Saint-Claude Saint-Claude, Jura Saint-Claude is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.The town was originally named Saint-Oyand after Saint Eugendus. However, when St... , Saint-Lupicin Saint-Lupicin Saint-Lupicin is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was .The estimate for 2005 was .-References:... , Septmoncel Septmoncel Septmoncel is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was 658.The estimate for 2004 was 649.-References:... , Vaux-lès-Saint-Claude Vaux-lès-Saint-Claude Vaux-lès-Saint-Claude is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.- References :... , Villard-Saint-Sauveur Villard-Saint-Sauveur Villard-Saint-Sauveur is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.- Demographics :As of the census of 1999, the population was 655.The estimate for 2006 was 649.- References :... , Villard-sur-Bienne Villard-sur-Bienne Villard-sur-Bienne is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.- Demographics :As of the census of 1999, the population was 132.The estimate for 2007 was 192.- References :...
The 11 communes of the Canton of Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux	Château-des-Prés Château-des-Prés Château-des-Prés is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Chaux-des-Prés Chaux-des-Prés Chaux-des-Prés is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Fort-du-Plasne Fort-du-Plasne Fort-du-Plasne is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.- References :... , Grande-Rivière Grande-Rivière, Jura Grande-Rivière is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , La Chaumusse La Chaumusse La Chaumusse is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , La Chaux-du-Dombief La Chaux-du-Dombief La Chaux-du-Dombief is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Lac-des-Rouges-Truites Lac-des-Rouges-Truites Lac-des-Rouges-Truites is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Les Piards Les Piards Les Piards is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:... , Prénovel Prénovel Prénovel is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was 296.The estimate for 2005 was 310.-References:... , Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was .The estimate for 2007 was .-References:... , Saint-Pierre Saint-Pierre, Jura Saint-Pierre is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Demographics:As of the census of 1999, the population was 316.The estimate for 2005 was 327.-References:*...

Publications

The park is featured in numerous publications such as guidebooks, maps, photographic portfolios, and educational and scientific documents. The content of these publications is diverse and can be divided into 7 categories:

Craft industry, folk know-how, housing
Coffee table books
Cultural heritage collections
The environment
Games and education
Photographic portfolios
Hiking and discovery

External links

Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura official site

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.