Aiguilles Rouges
The Aiguilles Rouges ("Red Needles") are a crystalline mountainous
Morphology
Unlike the massif of the Mont Blanc, the Aiguilles Rouges have no significant glaciers. The
The Aiguilles Rouges offer a splendid view of all the peaks of Chamonix, the glaciers of Mont Blanc, and the roof of Europe. The French artist Samivel is known for his paintings of some of these splendid views. The highest point in this range is named Belvédère (literally "beautiful viewpoint" in French) because it offers a 360° panoramic view of all the mountains surrounding the Aiguilles Rouges. The mountain path running from Planpraz to the Col des Montets via La Flégère, just above the treeline of the Aiguilles Rouges, is called Le Grand Balcon Sud (Grand Southern Balcony).
The eastern part of the range has numerous mountain lakes, of which the most remarkable is Lac Blanc at the foot of the Aiguille Belvédère.
The range is home to the principal climbing crags of Chamonix, which ascend the pinnacles of Planpraz made famous by the mountaineer Gaston Rébuffat.
Main summits
- L'aiguille du Belvédère (2,965 meters), highest summit of the massif;
- L'aiguille de Tête Plate (2,944 meters);
- L'aiguille de la Floria (2,888 meters);
- L'aiguille du Pouce (2,873 meters);
- L'aiguille de la Glière (2,873 meters);
- L'aiguille Pourrie (2,562 meters);
- Le Brévent (2,525 meters): at the South of the massif and accessible by a two-section cablecar ("Planpraz" and "le Brévent");
- L'aiguillette des Houches (2,312 meters).
Lakes
- Lac Blanc (White Lake)
- Lac du Brévent
- Lac Cornu (Horned Lake)
- Lac Noir d'en Bas (Lower Black Lake)
- Lac de l'Aiguillette
- Lacs des Chéserys
