Présentation du Mont Ventoux

The Mont Ventoux rises from the south-western end of the southern Prealps, extending some 24 km from east to west, and 15 km from north to south, rising to a maximum height of 1909 m. It forms a large monocline dipping mainly to the south, which shows faulting but no folding. The main crest runs from east to west, separating the scarp slope (to the north) from the dip slope (to the south), while a minor crest running from north to south divides the southern slope into a large western section and a smaller eastern section. Most of the massif is made up of Cretaceous limestone. Erosion has led to widespread accumulation of debris, especially marked at the summit due to the effects of frost-shattering. The southern slope is arid (most rainwater trickling through rock-fissures to an underground river system), whereas there are more springs on the northern slope.