Boucle du Croz (The Croz Loop ski trail) : CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING Samoëns

3 points of interest

• 

  

  Fauna

  Fragile life in winter mountains

  When you leave your cosy home in winter to head off into the snowy heights on your favourite mountain, you enter a fragile world. The animals that live there have to cope with harsh and arduous living conditions. They have to maintain their body temperature in the face of cold, wind and snow. Food is scarce and whatever food is actually accessible is low in calories. The animals have to conserve their precious energy. They try to stay in their comfort zones, where survival is a little easier: forest edges, windy ridges and other snow-free or sunny areas. They slow down their metabolism and only move when absolutely necessary. By acting responsibly when out in the wild, you are helping wildlife to survive. You are becoming an integral part of mountain life. Keep a low profile and remember that you’re a guest here!

• 

  

  ENS (Sensitive natural area), nature reserve or national park; how do we know which area we’re walking in?

  Nature reserves, national parks, Natura 2000 sites and similar areas encompass a wide range of administrative tools for protecting nature in France. Collectively, they cover more than 20% of France's land area. The diverse range of legal regimes and measures in place makes it possible to achieve the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of natural areas. To differentiate between these areas, it is essential to take into account the specific regulations that apply to each, ranging from the strict regulations in the national parks and nature reserves to the local prefectoral geotope and biotope protection decrees, such as the APPB (prefectoral biotope protection decree) of the Loëx plateau. Private contracts and land ownership rights may offer some additional options for managers, landowners, farmers and foresters

• 

  

  Flora

  The three essential roles of a peat bog

  Here you are standing next to the Plan du Rocher peat bog, a high-altitude bog located on both flat and sloped ground. Peat bogs help to regulate water levels due to the great absorption ability of sphagnum moss (a type of moss typical of peat bogs). They limit the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall, and help to maintain a regular flow in downstream watercourses during periods of drought. Peat bogs are effective natural purification stations, purifying water of its various pollutants (nitrates, sediments, etc.). They produce high-quality water, making them natural sources of drinking water. Lastly, they are some of the world's largest carbon storage ecosystems. Covering just 3% of the world's land surface, they contain up to 50% of atmospheric CO²! Therefore, they play a major role in world climate control. Please help us to preserve them by respecting the natural environment when you visit the site.