This landslide, located on the Hautes Terres road in the Haute-Provence Geopark, is a spectacular display of materials from different geological periods.
The “La Piche” chaos is the result of a landslide that began between 1990 and 1994 and spread until 2006, destroying part of the forest tracks. In 2016, there was a trend towards stabilization and even recolonization of the vegetation. Observation of the site reveals various geological “layers”, all of which have been completely disturbed by the landslide: grey marl (-160 million years old), white or coloured marl, sandstone and limestone with microfossils or plant debris (-37 to -25 million years old), pebble conglomerates from rocks of the inner Alps. Landslides are common in the region. The opening of slopes and the possible replay of faults contribute to the instability of slopes and the triggering of these movements.
