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Pyrenees

Pyrenees (French Pyrénées; Spanish Pirineos), mountain range of southwestern Europe, extending from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea and separating the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe. Except in a few places, such as the area occupied by the tiny semiautonomous principality of Andorra, the boundary between France and Spain runs along the crest of the chain; approximately two-thirds of the mountains lie in Spain. The Pyrenees extend for 435 km (270 mi) and cover 55,400 sq km (21,400 sq mi); the maximum breadth of the system is about 130 km (80 mi).

The Pyrenees form a regular and continuous chain, divisible into western, central, and eastern sections. The western section, which runs from the Bay of Biscay to Somport Pass and merges into the Cantabrian Mountains of northern Spain, has the lowest altitudes of the chain, with most of its peaks ranging between 900 and 1,200 m (3,000 and 4,000 ft) above sea level. The central Pyrenees extend to the Col de la Perche and contain the highest peaks of the system, including Pico de Aneto (3,404 m/11,168 ft), the highest point in the chain; Monte Perdido (3,355 m/11,007 ft); and Vignemale (3,298 m/ 10,820 ft). The summits of the eastern Pyrenees, which extend to the Mediterranean, range between 2,100 and 2,700 m (7,000 and 9,000 ft).

The Pyrenees, which are older than the Alps, were formed mainly during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. The eastern half of the Pyrenees is composed mostly of granite and gneiss, whereas in the western half the lower slopes are made up of limestone and the peaks of granite. The Pyrenees are a climatic divide; the French slopes receive abundant precipitation, while the Spanish slopes have very little rainfall. Vegetation is most developed in the west, where the lower slopes are forested; in the east the mountains are almost entirely barren. The permanent snow line is at 1,800 m (6,000 ft), and small glaciers are found in the high central section. Characteristic of the French Pyrenees, which are generally much steeper than the Spanish Pyrenees, are gaves, torrents that often drop from cliffs to form spectacular waterfalls.

The economy of the eastern Pyrenees is limited to Mediterranean-type agriculture, but in the west a number of manufacturing industries, powered by hydroelectricity generated by mountain streams, have been established. The only other industrial activity consists of mining—iron, lead, zinc, manganese, and coal are extracted—and marble quarrying. The few towns in the chain include Jaca and Ripoli in Spain and the famous pilgrimage center of Lourdes in France. The population of the Pyrenees includes Andorrans, Catalans, Béarnais, and Basques. The chain has many thermal and cold mineral springs, and well-known spas include Cauterets and Bagnères-de-Bigorre in France.

Western Pyrenees National Park, France

The Pyrenees Mountains run between Spain and France, with the border between the two countries lying along portions of the crest. Acting also as a climatic divide, the mountains cause heavy precipitation to fall on the French side. The steeper slopes in France also create spectacular waterfalls.

Photo Researchers, Inc./Francois Gohier