France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

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") , ...

Cantabrian Mountains , etymology=Named after the Cantabri , photo=Cordillera Cantábrica vista desde el Castro Valnera.jpg , photo_caption=Cantabrian Mountains parallel to the Cantabrian Sea seen from Castro Valnera in an east-west direction. In the background, ...

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on th ...

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none ( Latin)"United virtue is str ...

Crown of Aragon The Crown of Aragon ( , ) an, Corona d'Aragón ; ca, Corona d'Aragó, , , ; es, Corona de Aragón ; la, Corona Aragonum . was a composite monarchy ruled by one king, originated by the dynastic union of the Kingdom of Aragon and the County of ...

Greek mythology A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities of ...

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 ...

Herodotus Herodotus ( ; grc, , }; BC) was an ancient Greek historian and geographer from the Greek city of Halicarnassus, part of the Persian Empire (now Bodrum, Turkey) and a later citizen of Thurii in modern Calabria ( Italy). He is known for ...

Bebryx Bebrycius (Ancient Greek: Βεβρύκιος) or Bebryx, in Greek mythology A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These sto ...

Hercules Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. The Romans adapted th ...

hospitality Hospitality is the relationship between a guest and a host, wherein the host receives the guest with some amount of goodwill, including the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Louis de Jaucourt, Louis, chevalier de J ...

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 ev ...

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 Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/2479), called Pliny the Elder (), was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic ...

connects the story of Hercules and Pyrene to Lusitania, 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 ...

"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 A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outsi ...

, from west to east: Girona,

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 ...

, Lleida (all 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 no ...

),

Huesca Huesca (; an, Uesca) is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and of the comarca of Hoya de Huesca. In 2009 it had a population of 52,059, al ...

(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 so ...

), Navarra (in Navarre). The French Pyrenees are part of the following ''

département In the administrative divisions of France, the department (french: département, ) is one of the three levels of government under the national level ("territorial collectivities"), between the administrative regions and the communes. Ninety- ...

s'', 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 ...

(also known as Northern Catalonia), Aude, Ariège, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques (the latter two of which include the Pyrenees National Park). The independent principality of

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none ( Latin)"United virtue is str ...

is sandwiched in the eastern portion of the mountain range between the Spanish Pyrenees 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 of the Atlantic Ocean, the average elevation gradually increases from west to east. The Central Pyrenees extend eastward from the

Somport Somport or Col du Somport, known also as the Aspe Pass or Canfranc Pass, (el. 1632 m.) is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees on the border of France and Spain. Its name is derived from the Latin ''Summus portus''. It was one of the most po ...

pass to the Aran Valley, and they include the highest summits of this range: * Pico de Aneto in the Maladeta ridge, * Pico Posets , * Monte Perdido . 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 foothills of the Pyrenees are on the Spanish side, where there is a large and complex system of ranges stretching from Spanish Navarre, across northern Aragon and into Catalonia, almost reaching the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on th ...

coast with summits reaching . At the eastern end on the southern side lies a distinct area known as the Sub-Pyrenees. On the French side the slopes of the main range descend abruptly and there are no foothills except in the Corbières Massif in the northeastern corner of the mountain system.

Geology

The Pyrenees are older than the

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, ...

: their

sediment Sediment is a naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of wind, water, or ice or by the force of gravity acting on the particles. For example, sa ...

s were first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and

Mesozoic The Mesozoic Era ( ), also called the Age of Reptiles, the Age of Conifers, and colloquially as the Age of the Dinosaurs is the second-to-last era of Earth's geological history, lasting from about , comprising the Triassic, Jurassic and Creta ...

eras. Between 100 and 150 million years ago, during the Lower

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of ...

Period, the Bay of Biscay fanned out, pushing present-day Spain against France and applying intense compressional pressure to large layers of

sedimentary rock Sedimentary rocks are types of rock that are formed by the accumulation or deposition of mineral or organic particles at Earth's surface, followed by cementation. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause these particle ...

. 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 The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes from the Ancient Greek (''ēṓs'', " ...

Epoch. The eastern part of the Pyrenees consists largely of

granite Granite () is a coarse-grained ( phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies und ...

and

gneiss Gneiss ( ) is a common and widely distributed type of metamorphic rock. It is formed by high-temperature and high-pressure metamorphic processes acting on formations composed of igneous or sedimentary rocks. Gneiss forms at higher temperatures a ...

ose rocks, while in the western part the granite peaks are flanked by layers of

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms wh ...

. The massive and unworn character of the chain comes from its abundance of granite, which is particularly resistant to

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is di ...

, 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 times. Presumably it formed at height as extensive sedimentation raised the local base level 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 Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Swe ...

* 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 landf ...

. 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, in the same valley, together with the nearby Cirque de Troumouse and Cirque d'Estaubé, 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 landf ...

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 (), 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 (), in the middle of the range at the head of the Aran Valley. * Plan de Beret () * Col du Pourtalet (). * The Col de

Somport Somport or Col du Somport, known also as the Aspe Pass or Canfranc Pass, (el. 1632 m.) is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees on the border of France and Spain. Its name is derived from the Latin ''Summus portus''. It was one of the most po ...

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 R ...

s. * Col de la Pierre St Martin () *

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 (Spain) is an important point on the Camino de Santiago 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 and Vielha. A notable visual feature of this

mountain range A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have arise ...

is La Brèche de Roland, a gap in the ridge line, whichaccording to legendwas created by Roland. Ibón

Natural resources

The metallic ores of the Pyrenees are not in general of much importance now, though there were

iron Iron () is a chemical element with symbol Fe (from la, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, right in ...

mines at several locations in

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none ( Latin)"United virtue is str ...

, 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 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 dr ...

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 ...

long ago.

Coal Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as stratum, rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other Chemical element, elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen ...

deposits capable of being profitably worked are situated chiefly on the Spanish slopes, but the French side has beds of lignite. The open pit of Trimoun near the commune of Luzenac (Ariège) is one of the greatest sources of talc in Europe. Mineral springs are abundant and remarkable, and especially noteworthy are the

hot spring A hot spring, hydrothermal spring, or geothermal spring is a spring produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater onto the surface of the Earth. The groundwater is heated either by shallow bodies of magma (molten rock) or by c ...

s. The hot springs, among which those of Les Escaldes in Andorra, Panticosa 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 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 formul ...

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 kn ...

( Hautes-Pyrénées), Rennes-les-Bains ( Aude), and Campagne-sur-Aude (Aude), are mostly selenitic and not hot.

Climate

The amount of

precipitation In meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravitational pull from clouds. The main forms of precipitation include drizzle, rain, sleet, snow, ice pellets, graupel and hai ...

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. 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

glacier A glacier (; ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires distinguishing features, such a ...

s 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 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 Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

species as the Alps, and among the most remarkable instances of that

endemism Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

is the occurrence of the monotypic genus '' Xatardia'' (family Apiaceae), which grows only on a high alpine pass between the Val d'Eynes and

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 no ...

. Other examples include '' Arenaria montana'', ''

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 saxifrages, several species of which are endemic here.

Fauna

In their

fauna Fauna is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is ''flora'', and for fungi, it is '' funga''. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively referred to as ''biota''. Zoo ...

the Pyrenees present some striking instances of

endemism Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

. 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 (''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

cave A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...

rns of Ariège, the principal genera of which are '' Anophthalmus'' and ''Adelops''. The Pyrenean ibex, an endemic subspecies of the Iberian ibex, became extinct in January 2000; another subspecies, the western Spanish ibex, 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 Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, and ...

. 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 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. I ...

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 Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as Narrative, tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, r ...

and history: see

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none ( Latin)"United virtue is str ...

;

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 so ...

; 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;

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 no ...

; Navarre; Roussillon. For their history, see also Almogavars, Marca Hispanica. 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 ...

(in

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none ( Latin)"United virtue is str ...

and in Northern 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 no ...

), and Basque. Also spoken, to a lesser degree, is the

Occitan language Occitan (; oc, occitan, link=no ), also known as ''lenga d'òc'' (; french: langue d'oc) by its native speakers, and sometimes also referred to as ''Provençal'', is a Romance language spoken in Southern France, Monaco, Italy's Occitan Valle ...

, consisting of the Gascon and Languedocien dialects in France and the

Aranese Aranese ( oc, aranés) is a standardized form of the Pyrenean Gascon variety of the Occitan language spoken in the Val d'Aran, in northwestern Catalonia close to the Spanish border with France, where it is one of the three official languag ...

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 Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus ''Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated sh ...

, 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 The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million ...

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 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 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeedi ...

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 The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center in the City of La Cañada Flintridge, California, United States. Founded in the 1930s by Caltech researchers, JPL is owned by NASA ...

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 ...

, 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 Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, French department of Haute-Garonne and of the larger Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania. The city is on t ...

( Haute-Garonne),

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

with a population of 1,330,954 in its metropolitan area. On the Spanish side Pamplona, ( Navarre) is the closest city with a population of 319,208 in its metropolitan area. Inside the Pyrenees the main towns are

Andorra la Vella Andorra la Vella french: Andorre-la-Vieille is the capital of the Principality of Andorra. It is located high in the east Pyrenees, between France and Spain. It is also the name of the parish that surrounds the capital. , the city has a p ...

(22,256) and

Escaldes-Engordany Escaldes-Engordany () is one of the 7 parishes of Andorra. The Escaldes-Engordany parish was founded on 14 June 1978 and has the second largest population after Andorra la Vella. The parish is composed of the areas of les Escaldes, Engordany, E ...

(14 367) in Andorra,

Jaca Jaca (; in Aragonese: ''Chaca'' or ''Xaca'') is a city of northeastern Spain in the province of Huesca, located near the Pyrenees and the border with France. Jaca is an ancient fort on the Aragón River, situated at the crossing of two great ...

(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 (3,404 m) (Aragon) # Posets (3,375 m) (Aragon) # Monte Perdido (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 Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeir ...

(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 Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribei ...

(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 First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

(3,254 m) (Aragon) # Pic de Marboré (3,252 m) (Aragon-France) #

Cerbillona The Cerbillona, culminating at {{Convert, 3247, m, abbr=on in the massif du Vignemale, constitutes the south-western high fringe of the glacier d'Ossoue with the Pic central (3,235 m) and the Clot de la Hount (3,289 m). The Montferrat (3,219 m) ...

(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 Le Piton Carré (3,197 m) is a summit in the French Pyrenees in the Massif du Vignemale, of which it constitutes the seventh highest peak. Geography It is located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, Midi-Pyrénées region, in the Pyrenees Na ...

(3,197 m) (France) # Pic Long (3,192 m) (France) #

3rd Western Peak Maladeta Third or 3rd may refer to: Numbers * 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3 * , a fraction of one third * 1⁄60 of a ''second'', or 1⁄3600 of a ''minute'' Places * 3rd Street (disambiguation) * Third Avenue (disambiguation) * High ...

(3,185 m) (Aragon) # Pic Schrader (3,177 m) (Aragon-France) # Campbieil (3,173 m) (France) #

Pic de la cascade oriental The Cascade Peaks are three summits in the Monte Perdido Range of the Pyrenees, culminating at on the eastern peak. The central peak, known as Brulle, and the western peak are and high, respectively. The peaks are located on the 3,000 m French ...

(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 Pic du Taillon (in French) or Pico Taillón (in Spanish) is a summit in the Pyrenees, culminating at on the Franco-Spanish border in the Monte Perdido Range. Pic du Taillon is considered one of the easiest 3,000ers above the Cirque de Gavarnie ...

(3,144 m) (Aragon-France) # Pica d'Estats (3,143 m) (Catalonia-France) #

Punta del Sabre Punta is an Afro-indigenous dance and cultural music originating in the Caribbean Island of Saint Vincent And The Grenadines by the Garifuna people before being exiled from the island. Which is also known as Yurumei. It has African and Arawak ...

(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 Pic Verdaguer or Pic de Verdaguer is a mountain of the Montcalm Massif. Located in the Pyrenees, at the border between France and Spain, it has an altitude of above sea level.. This mountain is included in the Parc Natural de l'Alt Pirineu to ...

(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 Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribei ...

(3,121 m) (Aragon) # Pic de Royo (3,121 m) (Aragon-France) # Punta Ledormeur (3,120 m) (Aragon-France) #

Pico Alba Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribei ...

(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 (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 Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribei ...

(3,067 m) (Aragon-France) # Pic des Spijeoles (3,066 m) (France) # Pico Jean Arlaud (3,065 m) (Aragon) #

Tuca de Culebras Tuca is the nickname of multiple individuals: * Ricardo Ferretti, Brazilian-Mexican footballer and manager * Benjamín Pardo, fictional character in the Argentine telenovela ''Graduados'' * Tuca (footballer) (born 1981), Juliano Francisco de Paula, ...

(3,062 m) (Aragon-France) # Grand Quayrat (3,060 m) (France) # Pic Maubic (3,058 m) (France) #

Pico Gran Eriste Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeir ...

(3,053 m) (Aragon) # Garmo negro (3,051 m) (Aragon) # Pic du Portillon (3,050 m) (Aragon-France) #

Pico Argualas Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeir ...

(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 The Trois Conseillers is a summit in the French Pyrenees, culminating at {{convert, 3039, m, ft, 0. Geography It is located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Néouvielle massif, near Saint-Lary-Soulan in the Pyrenees National Park an ...

(3,039 m) (France) #

Pico Aragüells Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeir ...

(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 Comaloforno is a mountain of the Pyrenees, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. With an elevation of above sea level, it is the highest summit of the Besiberri Massif Besiberri Massif ( ca, Massís del Besiberri) is a mountain massif of the central area ...

(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 Besiberri Massif ( ca, Massís del Besiberri) is a mountain massif of the central area of the Pyrenees, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. It is located at the western limit of the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. Most main summits of ...

(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 Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeir ...

(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 Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribei ...

(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 Pic Ramougn (3,011 m) is a steep, rocky mountain in the Néouvielle massif in the Pyrenees. It is located in the commune of Saint-Lary-Soulan within the department of the Hautes-Pyrénées, and is named after the French politician, geologist and ...

(3,011 m) (France) #

Pico de Gias Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribei ...

(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 Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeir ...

(3,005 m) (Aragon) # Pic de Saint Saud (3,003 m) (France) # Middle Besiberri S (3,003 m) (Catalonia) #

Middle Besiberri N Middle or The Middle may refer to: * Centre (geometry), the point equally distant from the outer limits. Places * Middle (sheading), a subdivision of the Isle of Man * Middle Bay (disambiguation) * Middle Brook (disambiguation) * Middle Creek ( ...

(3,002 m) (Catalonia) #

Pointe Célestin Passet Pointe technique ( ) is the part of classical ballet technique that concerns ''pointe work'', in which a ballet dancer supports all body weight on the tips of fully extended feet within pointe shoes. A dancer is said to be ''en pointe'' () when ...

(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 Lac Gentau is a lake in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Pyrénées, France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas ...

File:Lac Ansabere01-Aspe-4643~2015 07 28.JPG, Aiguilles d'Ansabère and Mesa de los Tres Reyes reflected in the

lake of Ansabère A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...

File:Gavarnie recti small Wikimedia Commons.jpg,

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.Pic de Palas (2,974 m) * Pic de Comapedrosa (2,942 m) - highest point of

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none ( Latin)"United virtue is str ...

* Pic Carlit (2,921 m) *

Puigmal The Peak of Puigmal (), also called Puigmal d'Er, is a mountain in the Pyrenees, in the Spanish-French border, within the limits of the municipality of Queralbs and the commune of Err. Its summit is above sea level, one of the highest peaks in ...

(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 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 ...

(2,786 m) *

Peña Telera Peña, meaning "rocky outcrop" or "rocky summit" in the Spanish language (Aragonese: ''Penya'', Catalan: ''Penya''). It may refer to: Mountains *Peña Montañesa, a mountain in the Pre-Pyrenees, Aragon, Spain *Peña de los Enamorados, a mountain ...

(2,764 m) * Casamanya (2,740 m) * Cambre d'Aze (2.726 m) *

Cap de la cometa del forn A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. Caps typically have a visor, or no brim at all. They are popular in casual and informal se ...

(2,691 m) *

Visaurin Bisaurin ( es, Bisaurín; french: Bisaurín), or less frequently Visaurin, is a mountain on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, located in the northwest of Jacetania comarca, in Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and an, Aragón ; ca, Aragó ) i ...

(2,668 m) * Pic del Port Vell (2,655 m) * Aspe peak (2,645 m) *

Pic dels Aspres Pic dels Aspres is a mountain in the northwest of the principality of Andorra, close to the border with Spain. The nearest town is Arinsal, La Massana. Geographic features Some 250 metres below the summit is a round cirque, approximately 100 metr ...

(2,562 m) * Pedraforca (2,506 m) * Pic d'Anie (2,504 m) *

Pic de Pedraforca Pedraforca is a mountain in the Pre-Pyrenees, located in the comarca of 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 emb ...

(2,498 m) *

Pic de Madrès Pic de Madrès is a peak in the French Pyrenees, in the Aude department, Languedoc-Roussillon Languedoc-Roussillon (; oc, Lengadòc-Rosselhon ; ca, Llenguadoc-Rosselló) is a former administrative region of France. On 1 January 2016, it jo ...

(2,469 m) *

Mesa de los Tres Reyes Mesa de los Tres Reyes (Basque: ''Hiru Erregeen Mahaia'', Roncalese Basque: ''Iror Errege Maia'', Aragonese: ''Meseta d'os Tres Reis'', Gascon: ''Tabla d'eths Tros Rouyes'', French: ''Table des Trois Rois'') is a mountain of the Pyrenees. It ...

(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 The Peña Montañesa ( an, Penya Montanyesa) is a conspicuous rocky mountainous outcrop of the Pre-Pyrenees. It is located east of the valley of the Cinca, in the Sobrarbe comarca, Aragon, Spain. The ridge's highest summit is 2295 m high. ...

(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 Alpine skiing, or downhill skiing, is the pastime of sliding down snow-covered slopes on skis with fixed-heel bindings, unlike other types of skiing ( cross-country, Telemark, or ski jumping), which use skis with free-heel bindings. Whether ...

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 Summer is the hottest of the four temperate seasons, occurring after spring and before autumn. At or centred on the summer solstice, the earliest sunrise and latest sunset occurs, daylight hours are longest and dark hours are shortest, ...

and the autumn, the Pyrenees are usually featured in two of cycling's grand tours, the

Tour de France The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consist ...

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 GR 10 is a French GR footpath, or hiking trail, that runs the length of the Pyrenees Mountains. It roughly parallels the French–Spanish border on the French side. Those attempting the entire trail often choose to walk it from west to east, fr ...

across the northern slopes, the GR 11 across the southern slopes, and the HRP which traverses peaks and ridges along a high altitude route. In addition, there are numerous marked and unmarked trails throughout the region. '' Pirena'' is a dog- mushing competition held in the Pyrenees.

Ski resorts

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) * 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 (Spain) * La Pierre Saint Martin * Le Mourtis (France) * Les Angles (France) * Luchon-Superbagnères (France) *

Luz-Ardiden Luz Ardiden is a ski resort in the Pyrenees. It is situated in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, in the Occitanie Region. The ski resort lies at a height of 1720 meters and was opened on January 16, 1975. In recent years the road to Luz Ardiden h ...

(France) * Nistos cap nestes (France) *

Panticosa-Los Lagos Panticosa-Los Lagos, officially called ''Aramón Panticosa'', is a ski resort situated near the town of Panticosa in the upper Tena Valley of the western Pyrenees (province of Huesca, Spain). The resort It has 34 km of marked pistes, being ...

(Spain) * Pas de la Casa (Andorra) * Peyragudes (France) * Piau-Engaly (France) *

Port Ainé Port Ainé is a ski resort located in Rialp, in the Catalan Pyrenees, inaugurated in 1986. The ski area extends from 1,650 to 2,440 meters. Cycling In March 2013, Port Aîné hosted the fourth stage of the Volta a Catalunya . Daniel Martin wo ...

(Spain) * Port del Comte (Spain) *

Somport Somport or Col du Somport, known also as the Aspe Pass or Canfranc Pass, (el. 1632 m.) is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees on the border of France and Spain. Its name is derived from the Latin ''Summus portus''. It was one of the most po ...

(France-Spain) * Saint Lary (France) * 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 *
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 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