Vosges mountains

Houses, near Bussang

The Vosges are a mountain range in the east of France, between the plains of Alsace and Lorraine. They roughly run southwest to northeast. The Vosges are about 120 kilometres (75 mi) long. They cover an area between 5,500 and 6,000 square kilometres (2,100 and 2,300 sq mi). They can be subdivided into low middle and high Vosges. Their highest elevation is the Grand Ballon. It rises to 1,440 metres (4,720 ft). Towards Alsace, the slopes are often steep. The French département with the same name covers a part of the mountain range. The Palatinate Forest is to the north. Both together form one of the largest wooded areas in western Europe.