Manival, Creek in Saint-Nazaire-les-Eymes, France.
Manival is a mountain stream flowing through a gorge with rocky walls that descend from higher elevations to a valley floor. The water has carved through layers of stone, creating dramatic terrain where paths can wind between cliff faces and wooded slopes.
The stream became subject to flood control measures starting in the 1800s after it repeatedly inundated the valley. By the 1990s, fossils had been removed from the gorge, diminishing its value for studying the area's geological past.
The area draws hikers who use its paths to move between different elevations and natural passages. Walking through here connects visitors to the landscape in a way that shows how people have long crossed these valleys on foot.
The site spreads across two municipalities and can be reached via hiking trails with different entry points. Wear sturdy footwear since paths cross rocky and uneven ground with steep sections.
The gorge contains Mediterranean plant species like smoke trees that rarely grow at such northern latitudes. This unusual mix occurs because the sheltered canyon maintains milder conditions alongside high-altitude wildlife like black grouse.
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