The Coux circuit

4 points of interest

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  Peak

  Thunderstorms in the mountains

  - Avoid elevated spots: ridges, summits, isolated lone trees. In a shelter or in a forest, keep away from walls or tree trunks that can attract lightning. When a lightning strike forms, it takes the shortest route and generally strikes the highest point. - Wait for the storm to pass: avoid running and moving around, the best pose you can take is squatting with your feet together. Are you familiar with the phenomenon of "step voltage"? If you keep your feet together and firmly placed on the ground while squatting, you can avoid getting electrocuted by a nearby lightning strike, as the current will hit the ground first, before safely passing through your grounded feet. - Keeping distance: if you can, try to distance yourself from metal objects that you put in your bag (sticks, ice picks, climbing gear, etc.), but also from each other by moving away from each other. - Here's a hint: You can estimate the distance of a thunderstorm by counting the number of seconds between the flash of lightning and the thunder. Multiply this figure by 300, which is roughly the speed of sound in metres per second. The result is the distance in metres between us and the storm.

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  Fauna

  The Wolf

  Ever since its return to the Alps (Mercantour National Park in 1992), the wolf has been increasingly present in mainland France. Having disappeared from France around 1930, it made a successful comeback 30 years ago and is gradually continuing to spread. The wolf is an opportunistic species that can establish itself in a variety of environments, from plains to mountains, as long as there is an abundance of its primary prey. Wolves mainly prey on wild ungulates such as deer, roe deer and chamois. But can the wolf attack humans? All scientists agree that the risk of a wolf attack is very low in France. Proven wolf attacks on humans in past centuries were mainly carried out by rabid specimens. However, our lifestyles have changed a great deal since then, making wolf encounters very rare. Wolves do not consider humans as potential prey. They are generally wary of humans, whom they prefer to avoid by keeping as far away from them as wolfly possible.

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  Flora

  Identifying the flowers

  There are more than 300,000 plant species in the world, so identifying them can be tricky! To identify a particular flower, you of course have to look at its general appearance: the colour and shape of the petals, the pattern or spots... But two other characteristics are also essential: the leaves and the habitat around the plant. Leaves can be smooth-edged or serrated, simple or compound. The habitat is also a determining factor. Is the flower near a stream or lake, in a meadow or in a forest? The overall surroundings and the time of year also need to be taken into account. Once you've made your observations, you can use a guide to the local flora or a mobile application such as planteNet (remember to take photos of the stem, leaves, etc.).
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  Flora

  The four-leaf clover

  The four-leaf clover occurs as a result of a rare leaf growth mutation in white clover, the most common species found in grasslands. This mutation is determined by a gene activated by environmental pressure. If you are lucky enough to find one, it is likely to be surrounded by other four-leaf clovers. White clover grows in soil that tends to be chalky, full of water and organic matter. It is abundant in pastures constantly trodden by animals. A synonym for luck and patience, it's a beautiful memento from our childhood.