Pyrenees - Geography, Landscape, Natural resources, Climate, Preserved areas, Demographics, Summits, External link and references

Mountain range extending WE from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea, separating the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe; stretches 450 km/280 mi along the FrenchSpanish frontier; includes Andorra; highest point, Pic de Aneto (3404 m/11 168 ft); Gouffre de la Pierre St Martin, one of the deepest caves in the world; Grotte Casteret, highest ice cave in Europe; observatory at Pic du Midi de Bigorre.

They separate the Iberian Peninsula from France, and extend for about 430 km (267 mi) from the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic Ocean to Cap de Creus on the Mediterranean Sea.

Geography

Politically, the Pyrenees are part of the following French départements, from east to west: Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude, Ariège, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques (the latter two of which include Pyrenees National Park).

The Central Pyrenees extend eastward from the Somport pass to the Val d'Aran, and include the highest summits of the range:

Aneto or Pic de Néthou 3,404 m (11,168 ft) in the Maladetta ridge, Mont Posets 3,375 m (11,072 ft), Mont Perdu or Monte Perdido or Mont Perdut 3,355 m (11,007 ft).

The eastern part of the Pyrenees consists largely of granite and gneissose rocks, while in the western part the granite peaks are flanked by layers of limestone.

Landscape

Conspicuous features of Pyrenean scenery are:

the absence of great lakes, such as fill the lateral valleys of the Alps the rarity and great elevation of passes the large number of the mountain torrents locally called gaves, which often form lofty waterfalls, surpassed in Europe only by those of Scandinavia the frequency with which the upper end of a valley assumes the form of a semicircle of precipitous cliffs, locally called a cirque.

The highest waterfall is that of Gavarnie (462 m or 1,515 ft), at the head of the Gave de Pau; the Cirque de Gavarnie, in the same valley, is perhaps the most famous example of the cirque formation. between the two ends of the range, where the principal roads and the railways run between France and Spain, there are only the Col de la Perche, between the valley of the Têt and the valley of the Segre, and the Col de Somport or Port de Canfranc, on the old Roman road from Saragossa to Oloron-Sainte-Marie.

A particularly notable feature is La Brèche de Roland, a gap in the ridge line, in tradition created by Roland.

Natural resources

The metallic ores of the Pyrenees are not in general of much importance, though there were considerable iron mines at Vie de Sos in Ariège and at the foot of Canigou in Pyrénées-Orientales.

Climate

The amount of the precipitation, including rain and snow, is much greater in the western than in the eastern Pyrenees, which leads to a marked contrast between these sections of the chain in more than one respect. The snow-line varies in different parts of the Pyrenees from 2700 to 2800 m above sea-level.

Preserved areas

Principal nature reserves and national parks:

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park Alt Pirineu Natural Park Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park Pyrénées Occidentales National Park Vanoise National Park

Demographics

The ethnology, folklore, institutions and history of the Pyrenean region form an interesting study: see Andorra;

In the summer and autumn, the Pyrenees are featured in two of cycling's grand tours, the Tour de France held annually in July and La Vuelta a España held in September.

Ski resorts

Ski resorts in the Pyrenees include

Arette Astún Artouste Baqueira-Beret Bareges-La Mongie (Tourmalet) Bourg-d'Oueil Cauterets Candanchú Cerler Espot Esquí Font-Romeu Formigal Gourette Guzet-neige La Molina La Pierre Saint Martin

Le Mourtis Les Angles Luchon-Superbagnères Luz-Ardiden Masella Nistos cap nestes Panticosa-Los Lagos Pas de la Casa Peyragudes Piau-Engaly Port-Ainé Somport Superbagnères Tavascan Vall de Núria Vallter 2000

Summits

The highest point of the Pyrenees is the Aneto, located on the Spanish side.

Highest summits

Aneto (3,404 m) Posets (3,375 m) Monte Perdido (3,355 m) Pic Maudit (3,350 m) Pic du Cylindre (3,328 m) Pic de la Maladeta (3,308 m) Vignemale (Pique Longue) (3,298 m) Clot de la Hount (3,289 m) Pic du Marboré (3,248 m) Pic de Cerbillona (3,247 m) Pic de Perdiguère (3,222 m) Pic de Montferrat (3,220 m) Pic Long (3,192 m) Pic Schrader (Grand Batchimale) (3,177 m) Pic de Campbieil (3,173 m)

Pic de la cascade orientale (3,161 m) Pic Badet (3,160 m) Pic du Balaïtous (3,144 m) Pic du Taillon (3,144 m) Pica d'Estats (3,143 m) Punta del Sabre (3,136 m) Pic de la Munia (3,134 m) Pointe de Literole (3,132 m) Pic des Gourgs Blancs (3,129 m) Pic de Royo (3,121 m) Pic des Crabioules (3,116 m) Pic de Maupas (3,109 m) Pic Lézat (3,107 m) Pic de la cascade occidental (3,095 m) Pic de Néouvielle (3,091 m)

Pic de Troumouse (3,085 m) Pics d'Enfer (3,082 m) Pic de Montcalm (3,077 m) Grand pic d' Astazou (3,077 m) Épaule du Marboré (3,073 m) Pic du port de Sullo (3,072 m) Pic des Spijeoles (3,066 m) Pic de Quayrat (3,060 m) Pic des Trois Conseillers (3,039 m) Turon de Néouvielle (3,035 m) Pic de Batoua (3,034 m) Petit Vignemale (3,032 m) Pic de Besiberri Sud (3,017 m) Tour du Marboré (3,009 m) Casque du Marboré (3,006 m) Grande Fache (3,005 m)

Famous summits below 3,000 m

Pic de Palas (2,974 m) Pic de Comapedrosa (2,942 m) - highest point of Andorra Pic Carlit (2,921 m) Collarada (2,886 m) Pic du Midi d'Ossau (2,885 m) Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2,876 m)

Mont Valier (2,838 m) Petit Pic du Midi d'Ossau (2,812 m) Pic du Canigou (2,786 m) Pic d'Anie (2,504 m) Pic de Madrès (2,469)

Grande Aiguille d'Ansabère (2,376 m) Pic du Soularac (2,368 m) Pic du Saint Barthélémy (2,348 m) Pic des Trois Seigneurs (2,199 m) Pic d'Orhy (2,017 m)

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External link and references

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

Great Routes: Pirineos, from a website of the Instituto de Turismo de España (English) Official website of France's Pyrenees National Park Website of Friends of the Pyrenees Mountains Personal websites: Photos of Pyrenees from a geodynamics researcher at the University of Washington Walking the Camino de Santiago, A Guide The Camino de Santiago crosses the Pyrenees in three diferent places. Cycling the French High Pyrenees and Ariege Pyrenees photos and video by steephill.tv bike travelogue World Heritage Sites in France

World Heritage Sites in Spain