Pedraforca is a mountain in the

Pre-Pyrenees The Pre-Pyrenees are the foothills of the Pyrenees. Description As a mountainous system the Pre-Pyrenees are part of the Pyrenees. They run parallel to the main mountain range in a west to east direction. On the French side the Pyrenees's slop ...

, located in the

comarca A ''comarca'' (, or , or ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, ...

Berguedà Berguedà () is an inland comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain, lying partly in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, and partly in the Catalan Central Depression. Geography The northern half of Berguedà, known as Alt Berguedà (“Upper Berguedà� ...

. The mountain's rare form, along with the fact that it is not visibly connected to any other adjacent mountains or ridges, has made it one of the most famous and emblematic mountains in

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 nort ...

, the northeasternmost region

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

Description

The mountain has a peculiar, forked shape composed of two parallel peaks (the ''pollegons'') joined by a neck (the ''enforcadura''). The loftier peak, called ''Pollegó superior'', has an elevation of 2,506.4 m, with a secondary peak, ''el Calderer'', at 2,496.4 m in height. The lower peak, the ''Pollegó inferior'' is 2,444.8 m tall, while the ''Enforcaduras highest point lies at 2,356.2 m, with a scree field (''tartera'' in Catalan) on both faces of the mountain.

Location

Located within the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, Pedraforca has been declared a Natural Site of National Interest by the

Generalitat de Catalunya The Generalitat de Catalunya (; oc, label= Aranese, Generalitat de Catalonha; es, Generalidad de Cataluña), or the Government of Catalonia, is the institutional system by which Catalonia politically organizes its self-government. It is formed ...

.Pedraforca Massif Natural Park
The closest villages to Pedraforca are

Gósol Gósol is a village and municipality located in the northwest of the comarca of Berguedà in Catalonia, in the Pyrenees. It is within the confines of Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, to the west of Pedraforca. Gósol is the only municipality in Ber ...

to the west and

Saldes Saldes is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Berguedà in Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a '' nationality'' by its Statute ...

to the east. Pedraforca marks the boundary between the two municipalities, as well as between the provinces of

Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...

and Lleida.

Significance

Pedraforca is, along with the mountains of Montserrat and

Canigó The Canigó ( ca, Canigó, french: Canigou ; la, mons Canigosus or Canigonis) is a mountain located in the Pyrenees of southern France. The Canigó is located less than from the sea and has an elevation of . Due to its sharp flanks and its dra ...

, one of the emblematic mountains of Catalonia. This fame has made Pedraforca a popular destination for hikers and rock climbers, as well as being used by the comarca of Berguedà in its

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...

References

External links

Pedraforca

Refugi Lluís Estasen
Mountains of Catalonia Pre-Pyrenees Emblematic summits of Catalonia {{spain-stub