Cap de Creus The Cap de Creus (Cabo de Creus in Spanish) is a peninsula and a headland located at the far northeast of Catalonia, some south from the French border. The cape lies in the municipal area of Cadaqués, and the nearest large town is Figueres, ...

Aneto Aneto (''pic d'Aneto'' in French language, French, formerly ''pic de Néthou'') is the highest mountain in the Pyrenees and in Aragon, and Spain's third-highest mountain, reaching a height of . It stands in the Spanish province of Huesca (provi ...

microstate A microstate or ministate is a sovereign state having a very small population or very small land area, usually both. However, the meanings of "state" and "very small" are not well-defined in international law.Warrington, E. (1994). "Lilliputs ...

Kingdom of Navarre The Kingdom of Navarre (; , , , ), originally the Kingdom of Pamplona (), was a Basque kingdom that occupied lands on both sides of the western Pyrenees, alongside the Atlantic Ocean between present-day Spain and France. The medieval state took ...

Pyrene Pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) consisting of four fused benzene rings, resulting in a flat aromatic system. The chemical formula is . This yellow solid is the smallest peri-fused PAH (one where the rings are fused through mor ...

Greek historian Hellenic historiography (or Greek historiography) involves efforts made by Greeks to track and record historical events. By the 5th century BC, it became an integral part of ancient Greek literature and held a prestigious place in later Roman hist ...

Celtic Europe The Celts (, see pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples () are. "CELTS location: Greater Europe time period: Second millennium B.C.E. to present ancestry: Celtic a collection of Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient ...

Silius Italicus Tiberius Catius Asconius Silius Italicus (, c. 26 – c. 101 AD) was a Roman senator, orator and Epic poetry, epic poet of the Silver Age of Latin literature. His only surviving work is the 17-book ''Punica (poem), Punica'', an epic poem about th ...

Bebryx Bebrycius (Ancient Greek: Βεβρύκιος) or Bebryx, in Greek mythology, was a king and the father of Pyrene.(Anonymous) ''A classical manual, being a mythological, historical, and geographical commentary on Pope's Homer and Dryden's Aeneid o ...

quest A quest is a journey toward a specific mission or a goal. The word serves as a plot device in mythology and fiction: a difficult journey towards a goal, often symbolic or allegorical. Tales of quests figure prominently in the folklore of ever ...

Geryon In Greek mythology, Geryon ( or ;"Geryon"
''

Labours. Hercules, characteristically drunk and lustful, violates the sacred code of hospitality and rapes his host's daughter. Pyrene gives birth to a serpent and runs away to the woods, afraid that her father will be angry. Alone, she pours out her story to the trees, attracting the attention of wild beasts who tear her to pieces. After his victory over Geryon, Hercules passes through the kingdom of Bebryx again, finding the girl's lacerated remains. As is often the case in stories of this hero, the sober Hercules responds with heartbroken grief and remorse at the actions of his darker self, and lays Pyrene to rest tenderly, demanding that the surrounding geography join in mourning and preserve her name: "struck by Herculean voice, the mountaintops shudder at the ridges; he kept crying out with a sorrowful noise 'Pyrene!' and all the rock-cliffs and wild-beast haunts echo back 'Pyrene!' … The mountains hold on to the wept-over name through the ages." Pliny the Elder connects the story of Hercules and Pyrene to

Lusitania Lusitania (; ) was an ancient Iberian Roman province located where modern Portugal (south of the Douro river) and a portion of western Spain (the present Extremadura and the province of Salamanca) lie. It was named after the Lusitani or Lusita ...

, but rejects it as ''fabulosa'', highly fictional. Other classical sources derived the name from the Greek word for fire, grc, πῦρ (IPA: ). According to Greek historian

Diodorus Siculus Diodorus Siculus, or Diodorus of Sicily ( grc-gre, Διόδωρος ; 1st century BC), was an ancient Greek historian. He is known for writing the monumental universal history ''Bibliotheca historica'', in forty books, fifteen of which su ...

"in ancient times, we are told, certain herdsmen left a fire and the whole area of the mountains was entirely consumed; and due to this fire, since it raged continuously day after day, the surface of the earth was also burned and the mountains, because of what had taken place, were called the Pyrenees."

Geography

Political divisions

The Spanish Pyrenees are part of the following provinces, from east to west: Girona, Barcelona,

Lleida Lleida (, ; Spanish: Lérida ) is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital city of the province of Lleida. Geographically, it is located in the Catalan Central Depression. It is also the capital city of the Segrià comarca, as ...

(all in Catalonia), Huesca (in

Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and an, Aragón ; ca, Aragó ) is an autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces (from north to sou ...

), Navarra (in

Navarre Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...

). The French Pyrenees are part of the following '' départements'', from east to west:

Pyrénées-Orientales Pyrénées-Orientales (; ca, Pirineus Orientals ; oc, Pirenèus Orientals ; ), also known as Northern Catalonia, is a department of the region of Occitania, Southern France, adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier and the Mediterranean Sea. ...

(also known as

Northern Catalonia Northern Catalonia, North Catalonia, ; french: Catalogne (du) Nord ; oc, Catalonha (del) Nòrd; es, Cataluña (del) Norte) French Catalonia or Roussillon refers to the Catalan-speaking and Catalan-culture territory ceded to France by Spain ...

),

Aude Aude (; ) is a Departments of France, department in Southern France, located in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region and named after the river Aude (river), Aude. The departmental council also calls it "Ca ...

, Ariège, Haute-Garonne,

Hautes-Pyrénées Hautes-Pyrénées (; Gascon/Occitan: ''Nauts Pirenèus / Hauts Pirenèus'' awts piɾeˈnɛʊs es, Altos Pirineos; ca, Alts Pirineus alts piɾiˈneʊs English: Upper Pyrenees) is a department in the region of Occitania, southwestern France. ...

, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques (the latter two of which include the

Pyrenees National Park The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to ...

). The independent principality of Andorra is sandwiched in the eastern portion of the mountain range between the

Spanish Pyrenees The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to ...

and French Pyrenees. Pyrenees composite NASA

Physiographical divisions

Physiographically, the Pyrenees may be divided into three sections: the Atlantic (or Western), the Central, and the Eastern Pyrenees. Together, they form a distinct physiographic province of the larger Alpine System division. In the Western Pyrenees, from the Basque mountains near the

Bay of Biscay The Bay of Biscay (), known in Spain as the Gulf of Biscay ( es, Golfo de Vizcaya, eu, Bizkaiko Golkoa), and in France and some border regions as the Gulf of Gascony (french: Golfe de Gascogne, oc, Golf de Gasconha, br, Pleg-mor Gwaskogn), ...

of the Atlantic Ocean, the average elevation gradually increases from west to east. The Central Pyrenees extend eastward from the Somport pass to the Aran Valley, and they include the highest summits of this range: *

Pico de Aneto Aneto (''pic d'Aneto'' in French, formerly ''pic de Néthou'') is the highest mountain in the Pyrenees and in Aragon, and Spain's third-highest mountain, reaching a height of . It stands in the Spanish province of Huesca, the northernmost of ...

in the Maladeta ridge, *

Pico Posets Pico Posets or Punta de Llardana is the second highest peak of the Pyrenees, after Aneto. It is located in the Spanish province of Huesca and is high. Ascent route From the ''Angel Orús'' refuge (2,095 m), a well-marked path heads northwest. A ...

, *

Monte Perdido Monte Perdido (in Spanish; Mont Perdu in French; Mont Perdito in Aragonese;all four meaning ''lost mountain'') is the third highest mountain in the Pyrenees. The summit of Monte Perdido (3355 m), located in Spain, lies hidden from France b ...

. In the Eastern Pyrenees, with the exception of one break at the eastern extremity of the ''Pyrénées Ariègeoises'' in the Ariège area, the mean elevation is remarkably uniform until a sudden decline occurs in the easternmost portion of the chain known as the

Albères The Albera Massif ( ca, Serra de l'Albera) (french: Massif des Albères) is a mountain range located in the south of Pyrénées-Orientales and the north of Catalonia, between France and Spain. It is the main easternmost prolongation of the Pyrenee ...

.

Foothills

Most

foothill Foothills or piedmont are geographically defined as gradual increases in elevation at the base of a mountain range, higher hill range or an upland area. They are a transition zone between plains and low relief hills and the adjacent topograp ...

s of the Pyrenees are on the Spanish side, where there is a large and complex system of ranges stretching from Spanish

Navarre Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...

, across northern Aragon and into Catalonia, almost reaching the Mediterranean coast with summits reaching . At the eastern end on the southern side lies a distinct area known as the

Sub-Pyrenees The Sub-Pyrenees ( ca, Subpirineu) are a mountainous region in Catalonia, Spain, forming a section of the southern foothills of the Pyrenees. They are located at the eastern end of the Pre-Pyrenees, west of the Catalan Transversal Range, between ...

. On the French side the slopes of the main range descend abruptly and there are no foothills except in the

Corbières Massif The Corbières Massif (Catalan: ''Corberes''; french: Massif des Corbières, ) is a mountain range in the Pre-Pyrenees. It is the only true foothill of the Pyrenees on their northern side. Geography The Corbières are a mountain region in the ...

in the northeastern corner of the mountain system.

Geology

The Pyrenees are older than the Alps: their sediments were first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. Between 100 and 150 million years ago, during the Lower Cretaceous Period, the

Bay of Biscay The Bay of Biscay (), known in Spain as the Gulf of Biscay ( es, Golfo de Vizcaya, eu, Bizkaiko Golkoa), and in France and some border regions as the Gulf of Gascony (french: Golfe de Gascogne, oc, Golf de Gasconha, br, Pleg-mor Gwaskogn), ...

fanned out, pushing present-day Spain against France and applying intense compressional pressure to large layers of sedimentary rock. The intense pressure and uplifting of the Earth's crust first affected the eastern part and moved progressively to the entire chain, culminating in the Eocene Epoch. 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. The massive and unworn character of the chain comes from its abundance of granite, which is particularly resistant to erosion, as well as weak glacial development. The upper parts of the Pyrenees contain low-relief surfaces forming a peneplain. This peneplain originated no earlier than in

Late Miocene The Late Miocene (also known as Upper Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), Epoch made up of two faunal stage, stages. The Tortonian and Messinian stages comprise the Late Miocene sub-epoch, which lasted from 11.63 Ma (million ye ...

times. Presumably it formed at height as extensive sedimentation raised the local

base level In geology and geomorphology a base level is the lower limit for an erosion process. The modern term was introduced by John Wesley Powell in 1875. The term was subsequently appropriated by William Morris Davis who used it in his cycle of erosion ...

considerably.

Landscape

Conspicuous features of Pyrenean scenery are: * the absence of great lakes, such as those that fill the lateral valleys of the Alps * the rarity and relative high elevation of usable 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, called a

cirque A (; from the Latin word ') is an amphitheatre-like valley formed by glacial erosion. Alternative names for this landform are corrie (from Scottish Gaelic , meaning a pot or cauldron) and (; ). A cirque may also be a similarly shaped landform ...

. The highest waterfall is

Gavarnie Gavarnie (; oc, Gavarnia) is a former commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, Southwestern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Gavarnie-Gèdre.Gave de Pau; the

Cirque de Gavarnie __NOTOC__ The Cirque de Gavarnie is a cirque in the central Pyrenees, in Southwestern France, close to the border of Spain. It is within the commune of Gavarnie, the department of Hautes-Pyrénées, and the Pyrénées National Park. Major feat ...

, in the same valley, together with the nearby Cirque de Troumouse and

Cirque d'Estaubé The Cirque d'Estaubé is a cirque in the central Pyrenees in the Pyrenees National Park, forming the frontier between France and Spain. The cirque lies 4 km to the east of its better known neighbour, the Cirque de Gavarnie __NOTOC__ The C ...

, are notable examples of the

cirque A (; from the Latin word ') is an amphitheatre-like valley formed by glacial erosion. Alternative names for this landform are corrie (from Scottish Gaelic , meaning a pot or cauldron) and (; ). A cirque may also be a similarly shaped landform ...

formation. Low passes are lacking, and the principal roads and the railroads between France and Spain run only in the lowlands at the western and eastern ends of the Pyrenees, near sea level. The main passes of note are: *

Col de la Perche In geomorphology, a col is the lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaks.Whittow, John (1984). ''Dictionary of Physical Geography''. London: Penguin, 1984, p. 103. . It may also be called a gap. Particularly rugged and forbidding co ...

(), towards the east, between the valley of the Têt and the valley of the

Segre Segre may refer to: * Segre (surname) * Sègre (department), a former department of France * Segre River, a river in Catalonia * Segré, a commune in Maine-et-Loire, France * Segré, Burkina Faso * '' Diari Segre'' or ''Segre'', a Spanish- and Ca ...

, *

Col de Puymorens The Col de Puymorens ("Puymorens Pass") is a mountain pass in the French Pyrenees, connecting Foix to Cerdagne. Its summit is 1,915m. The pass historically crossed the border between France and Catalonia, until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659 ...

(), on European route E09 between France and Spain. * The nearby he Pas de la Casa or Port d'Envalira, the highest road pass in the Pyrenees at , and one of the highest points of the European road network, which provides the route from France to Andorra, * The

Port de la Bonaigua Port de la Bonaigua (el. 2072 m., 6,798 ft) is a mountain pass in the Pyrenees in Catalonia, Spain. It connects Esterri d'Àneu in the Comarques of Catalonia, comarca of Pallars Sobirà with Vielha e Mijaran in the comarca of Aran, Catalonia, Aran ...

(), in the middle of the range at the head of the Aran Valley. * Plan de Beret () * Col du Pourtalet (). * The Col de Somport or Port de Canfranc (), where there were old

Roman road Roman roads ( la, viae Romanae ; singular: ; meaning "Roman way") were physical infrastructure vital to the maintenance and development of the Roman state, and were built from about 300 BC through the expansion and consolidation of the Roman Re ...

s. *

Col de la Pierre St Martin Col de la Pierre Saint-Martin (elevation ) is a mountain pass on the France-Spain border in the western Pyrenees in the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (France) and Navarra (Spain). The climb from the Spanish side was used in the 2007 Tour ...

() *

Puerto de Larrau Puerto, a Spanish word meaning ''seaport'', may refer to: Places *El Puerto de Santa María, Andalusia, Spain *Puerto, a seaport town in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines *Puerto Colombia, Colombia *Puerto Cumarebo, Venezuela *Puerto Galera, Orient ...

() * The Roncevaux Pass (), entirely in

Navarre Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...

(Spain) is an important point on the

Camino de Santiago The Camino de Santiago ( la, Peregrinatio Compostellana, "Pilgrimage of Compostela"; gl, O Camiño de Santiago), known in English as the Way of St James, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint ...

pilgrimage route. Because of the lack of low passes a number of tunnels have been created, beneath the passes at Somport, Envalira, and Puymorens and new routes in the center of the range at

Bielsa Bielsa is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 463 inhabitants. The Bielsa tunnel under the Pyrenean mountains connects Bielsa and Aragnouet in ...

and Vielha. A notable visual feature of this mountain range is

La Brèche de Roland Roland's Breach (french: La Brèche de Roland; es, La Brecha de Rolando; an, La Breca de Roldán; eu, Errolanen Arraila; ca, La Bretxa de Rotllà) is the name of a natural gap, 40 m across and 100 m high, at an elevation of 2804&nb ...

, a gap in the ridge line, whichaccording to legendwas created by

Roland Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...

.

Natural resources

The metallic ores of the Pyrenees are not in general of much importance now, though there were iron mines at several locations in Andorra, as well as at

Vicdessos Vicdessos is a former commune in the Ariège department in southwestern France. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the new commune Val-de-Sos.Canigou in

Pyrénées-Orientales Pyrénées-Orientales (; ca, Pirineus Orientals ; oc, Pirenèus Orientals ; ), also known as Northern Catalonia, is a department of the region of Occitania, Southern France, adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier and the Mediterranean Sea. ...

long ago. Coal deposits capable of being profitably worked are situated chiefly on the Spanish slopes, but the French side has beds of

lignite Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, is a soft, brown, combustible, sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat. It has a carbon content around 25–35%, and is considered the lowest rank of coal due to its relatively low heat ...

. The open pit of Trimoun near the commune of

Luzenac Luzenac (; oc, Lusenac) is a commune in the Ariège department in southwestern France. Luzenac-Garanou station has rail connections to Toulouse, Foix and Latour-de-Carol. Population Sports * Luzenac is also home to the football club Luz ...

(Ariège) is one of the greatest sources of talc in Europe.

Mineral spring Mineral springs are naturally occurring springs that produces hard water, water that contains dissolved minerals. Salts, sulfur compounds, and gases are among the substances that can be dissolved in the spring water during its passage underg ...

s are abundant and remarkable, and especially noteworthy are the hot springs. The hot springs, among which those of

Les Escaldes Les Escaldes () or Escaldes is an urban area in Escaldes-Engordany parish, Andorra. It is located near the nation's capital, Andorra la Vella. Overview The name ''Les Escaldes'' comes from the presence of numerous hot springs, which produce high ...

in Andorra,

Panticosa Panticosa (in Aragonese: ''Pandicosa'') is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, it was a successful spa town, famous for its pure mountain waters, that supposedly cu ...

and Lles in Spain,

Ax-les-Thermes Ax-les-Thermes (; oc, Ax or ) is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Axéens'' or ''Axéennes''. The commune has been awarded one flower by the ''N ...

, Bagnères-de-Luchon and

Eaux-Chaudes Eaux-Chaudes is a spa in the valley of the Gave d'Ossau in the French Pyrenees. Location The village is located beside the river, at the southern entrance to the Gorge du Hourat. It is separated from the spa town of Eaux-Bonnes by the Massif du ...

in France may be mentioned, are

sulfur Sulfur (or sulphur in British English) is a chemical element with the symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with a chemical formula ...

ous and mostly situated high, near the contact of the granite with the stratified rocks. The lower springs, such as those of

Bagnères-de-Bigorre Bagnères-de-Bigorre (, literally ''Bagnères of Bigorre''; oc, label= Gascon, Banhèras de Bigòrra ) is a commune and subprefecture of the Hautes-Pyrénées Department in the Occitanie region of southwestern France. Name The town was known ...

(

Hautes-Pyrénées Hautes-Pyrénées (; Gascon/Occitan: ''Nauts Pirenèus / Hauts Pirenèus'' awts piɾeˈnɛʊs es, Altos Pirineos; ca, Alts Pirineus alts piɾiˈneʊs English: Upper Pyrenees) is a department in the region of Occitania, southwestern France. ...

),

Rennes-les-Bains Rennes-les-Bains (; oc, Los Banhs de Rènnas) is a commune in the Aude department in southern France. Bathers have enjoyed the natural hot spring waters for thousands of years - they are still used today as a cure for rheumatism and certain ...

(

Aude Aude (; ) is a Departments of France, department in Southern France, located in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region and named after the river Aude (river), Aude. The departmental council also calls it "Ca ...

), and Campagne-sur-Aude (Aude), are mostly selenitic and not hot.

Climate

The amount of precipitation the range receives, including rain and snow, is much greater in the western than in the eastern Pyrenees because of the moist air that blows in from the Atlantic Ocean over the

Bay of Biscay The Bay of Biscay (), known in Spain as the Gulf of Biscay ( es, Golfo de Vizcaya, eu, Bizkaiko Golkoa), and in France and some border regions as the Gulf of Gascony (french: Golfe de Gascogne, oc, Golf de Gasconha, br, Pleg-mor Gwaskogn), ...

. After dropping its moisture over the western and central Pyrenees, the air is left dry over the eastern Pyrenees. The winter average temperature is . Sections of the mountain range vary in more than one respect. There are some glaciers in the western and snowy central Pyrenees, but there are no glaciers in the eastern Pyrenees because there is insufficient snowfall to cause their development. Glaciers are confined to the northern slopes of the central Pyrenees, and do not descend, like those of the Alps, far down into the valleys but rather have their greatest lengths along the direction of the mountain chain. They form, in fact, in a narrow zone near the crest of the highest mountains. Here, as in the other great mountain ranges of central Europe, there is substantial evidence of a much wider expanse of glaciation during the glacial periods. The best evidence of this is in the valley of Argeles Gazost, between Lourdes and Gavarnie, in the ' of Hautes-Pyrénées. The annual snow-line varies in different parts of the Pyrenees from about above sea level. In average the seasonal snow is observed at least 50% of the time above between December and April.

Flora and fauna

Flora

A still more marked effect of the preponderance of rainfall in the western half of the chain is seen in the vegetation. The lower mountains in the extreme west are wooded, but the extent of forest declines as one moves eastwards. The eastern Pyrenees are peculiarly wild and barren, all the more since it is in this part of the chain that granitic masses prevail. Also moving from west to east, there is a change in the composition of the flora, with the change becoming most evident as one passes the centre of the mountain chain from which point the

Corbières Massif The Corbières Massif (Catalan: ''Corberes''; french: Massif des Corbières, ) is a mountain range in the Pre-Pyrenees. It is the only true foothill of the Pyrenees on their northern side. Geography The Corbières are a mountain region in the ...

stretch north-eastwards towards the central plateau of France. Though the difference in latitude is only about 1°, in the west the flora resembles that of central Europe while in the east it is distinctly Mediterranean in character. The Pyrenees are nearly as rich in endemic species as the Alps, and among the most remarkable instances of that endemism is the occurrence of the monotypic genus ''

Xatardia ''Xatardia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Apiaceae. It only contains one known species, ''Xatardia scabra''. It is native to the eastern part of the Pyrenees between France and Spain. The genus name of ''Xata ...

'' (family Apiaceae), which grows only on a high alpine pass between the Val d'Eynes and Catalonia. Other examples include ''

Arenaria montana ''Arenaria montana'', the mountain sandwort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to mountainous regions of southwestern Europe, from the Pyrenees to Portugal. The Latin specific epithet ''montana'' refers to moun ...

'', ''

Bulbocodium vernum ''Colchicum bulbocodium'', the spring meadow saffron, is a species of alpine bulbous plant native to mountain ranges across Europe from the Pyrenees to the Caucasus (Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Romania, the former Yugosla ...

'', and ''

Ranunculus glacialis ''Ranunculus glacialis'', the glacier buttercup or glacier crowfoot, is a plant of the family Ranunculaceae. It is a 5-10(-20) cm high perennial herb. Often with a single relatively large (1.8 - 3.8 cm) flower, with 5 petals first white late ...

''. The genus most abundantly represented in the range is that of the

saxifrage ''Saxifraga'' is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 465 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word ''saxifraga'' means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin ' ("rock" or " ...

s, several species of which are endemic here.

Fauna

In their fauna the Pyrenees present some striking instances of endemism. The Pyrenean desman is found only in some of the streams of the northern slopes of these mountains; the only other desman, the Russian desman, is confined to the Volga river basin in southern Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. The

Pyrenean brook salamander The Pyrenean brook salamander or Pyrenean newt ( an, guardafuents pirenenco; ca, tritó pirinenc; eu, uhandre piriniarra; es, tritón pirenaico), ''Calotriton asper'', is a largely aquatic species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It ...

(''Calotriton asper''), an endemic amphibian, also lives in streams and lakes located at high altitudes. Among other peculiarities of Pyrenean fauna are blind insects in the caverns of Ariège, the principal genera of which are ''

Anophthalmus ''Anophthalmus'' is a genus of ground beetle endemic to Europe. It contains the following species: * '' Anophthalmus aidovskanus'' Ganglbauer, 1913 * '' Anophthalmus alphonsi'' J. Muller, 1914 * '' Anophthalmus amplus'' Joseph, 1871 * '' Anopht ...

'' and ''Adelops''. The Pyrenean ibex, an endemic subspecies of the

Iberian ibex The Iberian ibex (''Capra pyrenaica''), also known as the Spanish ibex, Spanish wild goat, or Iberian wild goat, is a species of ibex endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. Four subspecies have been described; two are now extinct. The Portuguese su ...

, became extinct in January 2000; another subspecies, the

western Spanish ibex The Western Spanish ibex or Gredos ibex (''Capra pyrenaica victoriae'') is a subspecies of Iberian ibex native to Spain, in the Sierra de Gredos. It was later introduced to other sites in Spain (Las Batuecas, La Pedriza, Riaño) and to northern ...

, was introduced into the area, with the population numbering over 400 individuals as of 2020. The native brown bear population was hunted to near-extinction in the 1990s, but its numbers rebounded in 1996 when three bears were brought from Slovenia. The bear population has bred successfully, and there are now believed to be about 15 brown bears in the central region around Fos, with only four native ones still living in the Aspe Valley.

Protected areas

Principal nature reserves and national parks: * Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park (Spain) * Pyrénées National Park (France) * Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park (Spain) * Posets-Maladeta Natural Park (Spain) In 1997, part of the Pyrenees (including Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park and Pyrenees National Park) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its spectacular geologic landforms and testimony to the unique " transhumance" agricultural system.

Demographics and culture

The Pyrenean region possesses a varied ethnology, folklore and history: see Andorra;

Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and an, Aragón ; ca, Aragó ) is an autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces (from north to sou ...

; Ariège;

Basque Country Basque Country may refer to: * Basque Country (autonomous community), as used in Spain ( es, País Vasco, link=no), also called , an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain (shown in pink on the map) * French Basque Country o ...

;

Béarn The Béarn (; ; oc, Bearn or ''Biarn''; eu, Bearno or ''Biarno''; or ''Bearnia'') is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Bas ...

; Catalonia;

Navarre Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...

;

Roussillon Roussillon ( , , ; ca, Rosselló ; oc, Rosselhon ) is a historical province of France that largely corresponded to the County of Roussillon and part of the County of Cerdagne of the former Principality of Catalonia. It is part of the reg ...

. For their history, see also Almogavars,

Marca Hispanica The Hispanic March or Spanish March ( es, Marca Hispánica, ca, Marca Hispànica, Aragonese and oc, Marca Hispanica, eu, Hispaniako Marka, french: Marche d'Espagne), was a military buffer zone beyond the former province of Septimania, esta ...

. The principal languages spoken in the area are Spanish, French, Aragonese,

Catalan Catalan may refer to: Catalonia From, or related to Catalonia: * Catalan language, a Romance language * Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia Places * 13178 Catalan, asteroid #1 ...

(in Andorra and in

Northern Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a ra ...

and

Southern Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy. Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the north ...

), and Basque language, Basque. Also spoken, to a lesser degree, is the Occitan language, consisting of the Gascon language, Gascon and Languedocien dialects in France and the Aranese language, Aranese dialect in the Aran Valley. An important feature of rural life in the Pyrenees is ' transhumance', the moving of livestock from the farms in the valleys up to the higher grounds of the mountains for the summer. In this way the farming communities could keep larger herds than the lowland farms could support on their own. The principal animals moved were cows and sheep, but historically most members of farming families also moved to the higher pastures along with their animals, so they also took with them pigs, horses and chickens. Transhumance thus took the form of a mass biannual migration, moving uphill in May or June and returning to the farms in September or October. During the summer period, the families would live in basic stone cabins in the high mountains. Nowadays, industrialisation and changing agriculture practices have diminished the custom. However, the importance of transhumance continues to be recognised through its celebration in popular festivals.

Scientific facilities

Pic du Midi Observatory

The Pic du Midi de Bigorre, Pic du Midi Observatory is an astronomical observatory located at 2877 metres on top of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre in the French Pyrenees. Construction of the observatory began in 1878 and the 8 metres dome was completed in 1908. The observatory housed a powerful mechanical equatorial reflector which was used in 1909 to formally discredit the Martian canal theory. A 1.06-metre (42-inch) telescope was installed in 1963, funded by NASA and was used to take detailed photographs of the surface of the Moon in preparation for the Apollo missions. Other studies conducted in 1965 provided a detailed analysis of the composition of the atmospheres on Mars and Venus, this served as a basis for Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientists to predict that these planets had no life. Since 1980, the observatory has had a 2-metre telescope, which is the largest telescope in France. Overtaken by the giant telescopes built in recent decades, today the observatory is widely open to amateur astronomy.

Odeillo solar furnace

The Odeillo solar furnace is the world's largest solar furnace. It is situated in Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via, in the department of

Pyrénées-Orientales Pyrénées-Orientales (; ca, Pirineus Orientals ; oc, Pirenèus Orientals ; ), also known as Northern Catalonia, is a department of the region of Occitania, Southern France, adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier and the Mediterranean Sea. ...

, in south of France. Built between 1962 and 1968, it is 54 metres (177 ft) high and 48 metres (157 ft) wide, and includes 63 heliostats. The site was chosen because of the length and the quality of sunshine with direct light (more than 2,500 h/year) and the purity of its atmosphere (high altitude and low average humidity). This furnace serves as a science research site studying materials at very high temperatures. Temperatures above 3,500 °C (6,330 °F) can be obtained in a few seconds, in addition it provides rapid temperature changes and therefore allow studying the effect of thermal shocks.

Urban areas

No big cities are in the range itself. The largest urban area close to the Pyrenees is Toulouse ( Haute-Garonne), France with a population of 1,330,954 in its metropolitan area. On the Spanish side Pamplona, (

Navarre Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...

) is the closest city with a population of 319,208 in its metropolitan area. Inside the Pyrenees the main towns are Andorra la Vella (22,256) and Escaldes-Engordany (14 367) in Andorra, Jaca (12,813) and La Seu d'Urgell (12 252) in Spain, and Lourdes (13,976) and Foix (10,046) in France.

Highest summits

The following is the complete list of the summits of the Pyrenees above 3,000 metres: #

Aneto Aneto (''pic d'Aneto'' in French language, French, formerly ''pic de Néthou'') is the highest mountain in the Pyrenees and in Aragon, and Spain's third-highest mountain, reaching a height of . It stands in the Spanish province of Huesca (provi ...

(3,404 m) (Aragon) # Posets peak, Posets (3,375 m) (Aragon) #

Monte Perdido Monte Perdido (in Spanish; Mont Perdu in French; Mont Perdito in Aragonese;all four meaning ''lost mountain'') is the third highest mountain in the Pyrenees. The summit of Monte Perdido (3355 m), located in Spain, lies hidden from France b ...

(3,355 m) (Aragon) # Punta de Astorg (3,355 m) (Aragon) # Pico Maldito (3,350 m) (Aragon) # Espalda del Aneto (3,350 m) (Aragon) # Pico del Medio (3,346 m) (Aragon) # Espadas Peak (3,332 m) (Aragon) # Cilindro de Marboré (3,325 m) (Aragon) # Maladeta (3,312 m) (Aragon) # Vignemale (3,298 m) (Aragon-France) # Pico Coronas (3,293 m) (Aragon) # Pico Tempestades (3,290 m) (Aragon) # Clot de la Hount (3,289 m) (Aragon-France) # Soum de Ramond (3,259 m) (Aragon) # 1st Western Peak Maladeta (3,254 m) (Aragon) # Pic de Marboré (3,252 m) (Aragon-France) # Cerbillona (3,247 m) (Aragon-France) # Perdiguero (3,221 m) (Aragon-France) # 2nd Western Peak Maladeta (3,220 m) (Aragon) # Pic de Montferrat (3,219 m) (Aragon-France) # Pico Russell (3,205 m) (Aragon) # Pointe Chausenque (3,204 m) (France) # Piton Carré (3,197 m) (France) # Pic Long (3,192 m) (France) # 3rd Western Peak Maladeta (3,185 m) (Aragon) # Pic Schrader (3,177 m) (Aragon-France) # Campbieil (3,173 m) (France) # Pic de la cascade oriental (3,161 m) (Aragon-France) # Les Jumeaux Ravier (3,160 m) (Aragon) # Grand Tapou (3,160 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic Badet (3,150 m) (France) # Balaïtous (3,144 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic du Taillon (3,144 m) (Aragon-France) # Pica d'Estats (3,143 m) (Catalonia-France) # Punta del Sabre (3,136 m) (Aragon) # Diente de Alba (3,136 m) (Aragon) # Pic de la Munia (3,134 m) (Aragon-France) # Pointe de Literole (3,132 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic Verdaguer (3,131 m) (Catalonia-France) # Pic du Milieu (3,130 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic des Gourgs Blancs (3,129 m) (Aragon-France) # Les Veterans (3,125 m) (Aragon) # Pico Pavots (3,121 m) (Aragon) # Pic de Royo (3,121 m) (Aragon-France) # Punta Ledormeur (3,120 m) (Aragon-France) # Pico Alba (3,118 m) (Aragon) # Pic des Crabioules (3,116 m) (Aragon-France) # Seil Dera Baquo (3,110 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic de Maupas (3,109 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic Lézat (3,107 m) (France) # Western Crabioules (3,106 m) (Aragon-France) # Pico Brulle (3,106 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic de la cascade occidental (3,095 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic de Néouvielle (3,091 m) (France) # Serre Mourene (3,090 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic de Troumouse (3,085 m) (Aragon-France) #

Pico Posets Pico Posets or Punta de Llardana is the second highest peak of the Pyrenees, after Aneto. It is located in the Spanish province of Huesca and is high. Ascent route From the ''Angel Orús'' refuge (2,095 m), a well-marked path heads northwest. A ...

(3,085 m) (Aragon) # Infierno central (3,083 m) (Aragon) # Pics d'Enfer (3,082 m) (France) # Pico de Bardamina (3,079 m) (Aragon) # Pic de la Paul (3,078 m) (Aragon) # Pic de Montcalm (3,077 m) (France) # Infierno oriental (3,076 m) (Aragon) # Pic Maou (3,074 m) (France) # Infierno occidental (3,073 m) (Aragon) # Épaule du Marboré (3,073 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic du port de Sullo (3,072 m) (Catalonia-France) # Frondella NE (3,071 m) (Aragon) # Grand pic d' Astazou (3,071 m) (Aragon-France) # Pico de Vallibierna (3,067 m) (Aragon) # Pico Marcos Feliu (3,067 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic des Spijeoles (3,066 m) (France) # Pico Jean Arlaud (3,065 m) (Aragon) # Tuca de Culebras (3,062 m) (Aragon-France) # Grand Quayrat (3,060 m) (France) # Pic Maubic (3,058 m) (France) # Pico Gran Eriste (3,053 m) (Aragon) # Garmo negro (3,051 m) (Aragon) # Pic du Portillon (3,050 m) (Aragon-France) # Pico Argualas (3,046 m) (Aragon) # Baudrimont NW (3,045 m) (Aragon) # Pic de Eristé sur (3,045 m) (Aragon) # Pic Camboue (3,043 m) (France) # Trois Conseillers (3,039 m) (France) # Pico Aragüells (3,037 m) (Aragon) # Pico Algas (3,036 m) (Aragon) # Turon de Néouvielle (3,035 m) (France) # Pic de Batoua (3,034 m) (Aragon) # Gabietou occidental (3,034 m) (Aragon-France) # Comaloforno (3,033 m) (Catalonia) # Petit Vignemale (3,032 m) (France) # Gabietou oriental (3,031 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic de Bugarret (3,031 m) (France) # South Besiberri Massif (3,030 m) (Catalonia) # Pic de l'Abeille (3,029 m) (Aragon-France) # Baudrimont SE (3,026 m) (Aragon) # Pic Béraldi (3,025 m) (Aragon) # Pico de la Pez (3,024 m) (Aragon) # Pic de Lustou (3,023 m) (France) # Pic Heid (3,022 m) (France) # Pic de Crabounouse (3,021 m) (France) # Pico de Clarabide (3,020 m) (Aragon-France) # Pico del puerto de la pez (3,018 m) (Aragon-France) # Dent d'Estibère male (3,017 m) (France) # North Besiberri Massif (3,014 m) (Catalonia) # Punta Alta Massif (3,014 m) (Catalonia) # Petit Astazou (3,012 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic Ramougn (3,011 m) (France) # Pico de Gias (3,011 m) (Aragon) # Tuc de Molières (3,010 m) (Catalonia-Aragon) # Tour du Marboré (3,009 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic Belloc (3,008 m) (France) # Pic Forqueta (3,007 m) (Aragon) # Pic d'Estaragne (3,006 m) (France) # Pico de Boum (3,006 m) (Aragon-France) # Casque du Marboré (3,006 m) (Aragon-France) # Arnales (3,006 m) (Aragon) # Grande Fache (3,005 m) (Aragon-France) # Pico Robiñera (3,005 m) (Aragon) # Pic de Saint Saud (3,003 m) (France) # Middle Besiberri S (3,003 m) (Catalonia) # Middle Besiberri N (3,002 m) (Catalonia) # Pointe Célestin Passet (3,002 m) (Catalonia) # Punta de las Olas (3,002 m) (Aragon) # Frondella SW (3,001 m) (Aragon)

Notable summits below 3,000 metres

File:Gentau Pic du Midi Ossau.jpg, Pic du Midi d'Ossau reflected in the lac Gentau File:Lac Ansabere01-Aspe-4643~2015 07 28.JPG, Aiguilles d'Ansabère and Mesa de los Tres Reyes reflected in the lake of Ansabère File:Gavarnie recti small Wikimedia Commons.jpg, Cirque de Gavarnie, Gavarnie * Pic de Palas (2,974 m) * Coma Pedrosa, Pic de Comapedrosa (2,942 m) - highest point of Andorra * Pic Carlit (2,921 m) * Puigmal (2,913 m) * Cotiella (2,912 m) * Pic de Sanfonts (2,894 m) * Pic d'Envalira (2,827 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) * Peña Telera (2,764 m) * Ordino, Casamanya (2,740 m) * Cambre d'Aze (2.726 m) * Cap de la cometa del forn (2,691 m) * Visaurin (2,668 m) * Pic del Port Vell (2,655 m) *Aspe peak (2,645 m) * Pic dels Aspres (2,562 m) * Pedraforca (2,506 m) * Pic d'Anie (2,504 m) * Pic de Pedraforca (2,498 m) * Pic de Madrès (2,469 m) * Mesa de los Tres Reyes (2,428 m) * Grande Aiguille d'Ansabère (2,376 m) * Pic du Soularac (2,368 m) * Pic du Saint Barthélémy (2,348 m) *Peña Montañesa (2,291 m) *Peña Foratata (2,282 m) * Pic des Trois Seigneurs (2,199 m) * Pic d'Orhy (2,017 m) * Chamanchoya (1,935 m) * Otsogorrigaina (1,922 m) * Pic de Cagire (1,912 m) * Pic du Gar (1,785 m) * Urkulu (1,419 m) * Larrun (905 m)

Sports and leisure

Both sides of the Pyrenees are popular spots for winter sports such as alpine skiing and mountaineering. The Pyrenees are also a good place for athletes, such as Gary Wood, to do high-altitude training in the summertime, such as by bicycling and cross-country running. In the summer and the autumn, the Pyrenees are usually featured in two of cycling's grand tours, the Tour de France held annually in July and the Vuelta a España held in September. The stages held in the Pyrenees are often crucial legs of both tours, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators to the region. Three main long-distance footpaths run the length of the mountain range: the GR 10 (France), GR 10 across the northern slopes, the GR 11 (Spain), GR 11 across the southern slopes, and the Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne, HRP which traverses peaks and ridges along a high altitude route. In addition, there are numerous marked and unmarked trails throughout the region. ''Pirena (race), Pirena'' is a dog-mushing competition held in the Pyrenees.

Ski resorts

Skiing, Ski resorts in the Pyrenees include: * Alp 2500 (Spain) * Arette (France) * Astún (Spain) * Artouste (France) *

Ax-les-Thermes Ax-les-Thermes (; oc, Ax or ) is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Axéens'' or ''Axéennes''. The commune has been awarded one flower by the ''N ...

(France) * Baqueira-Beret (Spain) * Boí Taüll Resort (Spain) * La Mongie, Bareges-La Mongie (Tourmalet) (France) * Luz Ardiden (France) * Bourg-d'Oueil (France) * Cauterets (France) * Candanchú (Spain) * Cerler (Spain) * Espot Esquí (Spain) * Font-Romeu (France) * Formigal (Spain) * Gavarnie GèdrePays Toy Ski Resort

archive
(France) * Gourette (France) * Guzet-Neige (France) * Hautacam (France) * La Molina (ski resort), La Molina (Spain) * La Pierre Saint Martin * Le Mourtis (France) * Les Angles, Pyrénées-Orientales, Les Angles (France) * Luchon-Superbagnères (France) * Luz-Ardiden (France) * Nistos cap nestes (France) * Panticosa-Los Lagos (Spain) * Pas de la Casa (Andorra) * Peyragudes (France) * Piau-Engaly (France) * Port Ainé (Spain) * Port del Comte (ski resort), Port del Comte (Spain) * Somport (France-Spain) * Saint Lary (France) * Soldeu, Soldeu / El Tarter (Andorra) * Superbagnères (France) * Tavascan (Spain) * Vall de Núria (Spain) * Vallnord (Andorra) * Vallter 2000 (Spain)

References

External links

*
Official website
of France's

Pyrenees National Park The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to ...

*
Archives of Pyrenees-Atlantiques department

Great Routes: Pirineos
from a website of the Instituto de Turismo de España
Les Amis du Livre Pyrénéen (bibliography and history of the Pyrenees)
{{Authority control Pyrenees, Mountain ranges of Europe Geography of Southern Europe Geography of Southwestern Europe Geography of Western Europe Landforms of Ariège (department) Mountain ranges of Aragon Mountain ranges of Catalonia Mountain ranges of the Basque Country (autonomous community) Landforms of Pyrénées-Atlantiques Landforms of Pyrénées-Orientales Landforms of Haute-Garonne Landforms of Hautes-Pyrénées Landforms of Andorra Green Spain Physiographic provinces Mountain ranges of Occitania (administrative region) Mountain ranges of Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Etymology

Geography

Political divisions

Physiographical divisions

Foothills

Geology

Landscape

Natural resources

Climate

Flora and fauna

Flora

Fauna

Protected areas

Demographics and culture

Scientific facilities

Pic du Midi Observatory

Odeillo solar furnace

Urban areas

Highest summits

Notable summits below 3,000 metres

Sports and leisure

Ski resorts

See also

References

Further reading

External links