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Haute-Savoie department
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Tourist attractions |
A REGION OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY
Haute-Savoie boasts a wide array of tourist attractions, and two major lakes: Lake Geneva (582 sq. km./224.7 sq. miles) and Lake Annecy (27 sq. km./10.4 sq. miles).
Haute-Savoie is a mountainous region featuring four large mountain ranges, Mont Blanc, Les Aravis, Les Portes du Soleil and Le Grand Massif, each with an extensive ski areas. Mont Blanc, Europe's tallest mountain, comprises several places of outstanding scenic interest, including the Aiguille du Midi peak, the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) and the Cirque du Fer à Cheval (Horseshoe Amphitheater).
A LONG TRADITION OF TOURISM
Haute-Savoie first attracted tourists in the 18th century. First to visit Chamonix were the English, who came to look at the glaciers in particular. The vogue for taking the waters further stimulated the tradition in the 19th century. But tourism truly began to boom in the aftermath of World War II, and mass tourism has made Haute-Savoie one of the foremost vacation destinations in France.
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