Swiss Jura

Jura Mountains
Looking towards Lélex from near the Crêt de la Neige
Highest point
Peak	Crêt de la Neige
Elevation	1,720 m (5,640 ft)
Coordinates	46°16′15″N 5°56′22″E / 46.27083°N 5.93944°E / 46.27083; 5.93944
Geography
Satellite image of the Jura Mountains
Countries	France and Switzerland
States/Provinces	List Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Vaud Canton of Neuchâtel Canton of Jura Basel-Landschaft
Range coordinates	46°40′N 6°15′E / 46.667°N 6.250°E / 46.667; 6.250Coordinates: 46°40′N 6°15′E / 46.667°N 6.250°E / 46.667; 6.250
Borders on	the Alps

The Jura Mountains (French pronunciation: ​[ʒyʁa]; German pronunciation: [ˈjuːʁa]) French: Massif du Jura, (German: Juragebirge, Italian: Massiccio del Giura) are a sub-alpine mountain range located north of the Western Alps, mainly following the course of the France–Switzerland border. The Jura separates the Rhine and Rhône basins, forming part of the watershed of each.

The name "Jura" is derived from juria, a Latinized form of a Celtic stem jor- "forest". The mountain range gives its name to the French department of Jura, the Swiss Canton of Jura, the Jurassic period of the geologic timescale, and the Montes Jura of the Moon.

The Jura Mountains are a distinct province of the larger Central European uplands.

In France, the Jura covers most of the Franche-Comté region, stretching south into the Rhône-Alpes region. The range reaches its highest point at Le Crêt de la Neige in the department of Ain and finds its southern terminus in the northwestern part of the department of Savoie. The north end of the Jura extends into the southern tip of the Alsace region. Roughly 1,600 km² (600 sq mi) of the mountain range in France is protected by the Jura Mountains Regional Natural Park.