Editing Vosges (section)

== Geography ==
[[Geographically]], the Vosges Mountains are wholly in [[France]], far above the [[Col de Saverne]] separating them from the [[Palatinate Forest]] in [[Germany]]. The latter area logically continues the same Vosges geologic structure but traditionally receives this different name for historical and political reasons.{{explain|date=June 2020}} From 1871 to 1918 the Vosges marked for the most part the border between [[Germany]] and France, due to the [[Franco-Prussian War]]. The elongated [[massif]] is divided south to north into three sections:

* The Higher Vosges or High Vosges<ref name="D">Dickinson, Robert E (1964). ''Germany: A Regional and Economic Geography'' (2nd ed.). London: Methuen, p. 540. {{ASIN|B000IOFSEQ}}.</ref> (''Hautes Vosges''), extending in the southern part of the range from Belfort to the river valley of the [[Bruche (river)|Bruche]]. The rounded summits of the Hautes Vosges are called ''ballons'' in French, literally "balloons".{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}
* The [[sandstone]] Vosges or Middle Vosges<ref name="D"/> ({{cvt|50|km|disp=comma}}), between the Permian Basin of Saint-Die including the [[Devonian]]-[[Dinantian]] [[Volcanism|volcanic]] massif of Schirmeck-Moyenmoutier and the Col de Saverne
* The Lower Vosges or Low Vosges<ref name="D"/> ({{cvt|48|km|disp=comma}}), commonly known as [[Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park|North Vosges]], a sandstone plateau ranging from {{convert|1000|ft|m|disp=flip}} to {{convert|1850|ft|m|disp=flip}} high,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} between the [[Col de Saverne]] and the source of the [[Lauter (Rhine)|Lauter]].

In addition, the term "Central Vosges" is used to designate the various lines of summits, especially those above {{cvt|1000|m}} in elevation. The French department of Vosges is named after the range.

===Geology===
[[File:Ballons Vosges.png|thumb|left|Upper Vosges Mountains map]]
From a geological point of view, a [[graben]] at the beginning of the [[Paleogene]] period caused the formation of [[Alsace]] and the uplift of the bedrock plates of the Vosges, in eastern [[France]], and those in the [[Black Forest]], in [[Germany]]. From a scientific view, the Vosges Mountains are not mountains as such, but rather the western edge of the unfinished Alsatian graben, stretching continuously as part of the larger Tertiary formations. Erosive [[glacial]] action was the primary catalyst for development of the [[Highland (geography)|highland]] massif feature.

The Vosges in their southern and central parts are called the ''Hautes Vosges''. These consist of a large [[Carboniferous]] mountain eroded just before the [[Permian]] period with [[gneiss]], [[granite]]s, [[porphyritic]] masses or other volcanic intrusions. The north, south and west parts are less eroded by glaciers, and here Vosges [[Triassic]] and Permian red [[sandstone]] remains are found in large beds. The ''grès vosgien'' (a French name for a Triassic rose sandstone) are embedded sometimes up to more than {{cvt|500|m}} in thickness. The Lower Vosges in the north are dislocated plates of various sandstones, ranging from {{cvt|300|to|600|m|-2}} high.

The Vosges are very similar to the corresponding range of the [[Black Forest]] across the [[Rhine]] since both lie within the same degrees of latitude, have similar geological formations and are characterised by forests on their lower slopes, above which are open pastures and rounded summits of a rather uniform altitude. Both areas exhibit steeper slopes towards the [[Rhine]] and a more gradual descent on the other side.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} Both the Vosges and the Black Forest were formed by [[Tectonic uplift|isostatic uplift]] in response to the opening of the [[Rhine Graben]], a major extensional basin. When such basins form, the thinning of the crust causes uplift immediately adjacent to the basin, decreasing with distance from the basin. Thus, the highest range of peaks rises immediately adjacent to the basin and increasingly lower mountains rise further from the basin.

=== Mountains ===
[[File:Route des Crêtes Grand Ballon 1.jpg|thumb|Grand Ballon]]
[[File:Le Storkenkopf.JPG|thumb|Storkenkopf]]
[[File:2011-01-15 16-51-49-hohneck.jpg|thumb|Hohneck]]
[[File:Kastelberg large.jpg|thumb|Kastelberg]]
[[File:Le Tanet 01.jpg|thumb|Le Tanet]]
The highest points are in the ''Hautes Vosges'': the [[Grand Ballon]], in ancient times called ''Ballon de Guebwiller'' or ''Ballon de Murbach,'' rises to {{cvt|1424|m}}; the [[Storckenkopf]] to {{cvt|1366|m}}; the [[Hohneck (Vosges)|Hohneck]] to {{cvt|1364|m}}; the [[Kastelberg]] to {{cvt|1350|m|0}}; and the [[Ballon d'Alsace]] to {{cvt|1247|m}}. The Col de Saales, between the Higher and Central Vosges, reaches nearly {{cvt|579|m}}, both lower and narrower than the Higher Vosges, with [[Mont Donon]] at {{cvt|1008|m}} being the highest point of this Nordic section.

The highest mountains and peaks of the Vosges (with Alsatian or German names in brackets) are:
* [[Grand Ballon]] (''Großer Belchen'') {{cvt|1424|m}}
* [[Storkenkopf]] {{cvt|1366|m}}
* [[Hohneck (Vosges)|Hohneck]] {{cvt|1363|m}}
* [[Kastelberg]] {{cvt|1350|m|0}}
* [[Klintzkopf]] (''Klinzkopf'') {{cvt|1330|m|0}}
* [[Rothenbachkopf]] {{cvt|1316|m}}
* [[Lauchenkopf]] {{cvt|1314|m}}
* [[Batteriekopf]] {{cvt|1311|m}}
* [[Haut de Falimont]] {{cvt|1306|m}}
* [[Gazon du Faing]] {{cvt|1306|m}}
* [[Rainkopf]] {{cvt|1305|m}}
* [[Gazon de Faîte]] {{cvt|1303|m}}
* [[Ringbuhl]] (''Ringbühl'') {{cvt|1302|m}}
* [[Soultzereneck]] (''Sulzereneck'') {{cvt|1302|m}}
* [[Le Tanet]] (''Tanneck'') {{cvt|1292|m}}
* [[Petit Ballon]] (''Kahler Wasen'' or ''Kleiner Belchen'') {{cvt|1272|m}}
* [[Ballon d'Alsace]] (''Elsässer Belchen'') {{cvt|1247|m}}
* [[Brézouard]] {{cvt|1229|m}}
* [[Ballon de Servance]] (highest point in the département of [[Haute-Saône]]) {{cvt|1216|m}}
* [[Drumont (Vosges)|Drumont]] {{cvt|1200|m|0}}
* [[Rossberg (Masevaux)|Rossberg]] {{cvt|1191|m|0}}
* [[Planche des Belles Filles]] {{cvt|1148|m}}
* [[Molkenrain]] {{cvt|1123|m}}
* [[Champ du Feu]] (''Hochfeld'' or ''Firstfeld'') {{cvt|1098|m}}
* [[Baerenkopf]] {{cvt|1074|m}}
* [[Rocher de Mutzig]] (''Mutzigfelsen'') {{cvt|1008|m|0}}
* [[Donon]] {{cvt|1008|m}}
* [[Taennchel]] (''Tännchel'') {{cvt|992|m}}
* [[Climont]] {{cvt|965|m}}
* [[Hartmannswillerkopf]] (''Hartmannsweilerkopf'') {{cvt|956|m}}
* [[Ungersberg]] {{cvt|901|m}}
* [[Tête du Coquin]] {{cvt|837|m}}
* [[Mont Sainte-Odile]] (''Odilienberg'') {{cvt|764|m|0}}
* [[Dabo (Vosges)|Dabo]] (''Dagsburg'') {{cvt|650|m}}
* [[Grand Wintersberg]] (''Großer Wintersberg'') {{cvt|581|m}}
* [[Château de Hohenbourg|Hohenbourg]] (''Hohenburg'') {{cvt|550|m|0}}

===Nature parks and protected areas===
Two [[nature park]]s lie within the Vosges: the [[Ballons des Vosges Nature Park]] and the [[Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park]]. The [[Northern Vosges]] Nature Park and the [[Palatinate Forest Nature Park]] on the German side of the border form the cross-border [[UNESCO]]-designated [[Palatinate Forest-North Vosges Biosphere Reserve]].

In the late 20th century, a wide area of the massif was included in two [[protected area]]s, the [[Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park|Parc naturel régional des Vosges du Nord]] (established in 1976) and the [[Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges]] (established in 1989).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges {{!}} PnrBV |url=https://www.parc-ballons-vosges.fr/comprendre/parc-naturel-regional-ballons-vosges/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges}}</ref>