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New page: The '''Pyrenees''' are a European mountain range, running from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. They form the natural border between France and Spain, and t...
The '''Pyrenees''' are a [[Europe]]an mountain range, running from the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. They form the natural border between [[France]] and [[Spain]], and the small country of [[Andorra]] lies entirely within the Pyrenees between the two. The highest mountain in the range is Pico de Aneto (11,168 feet) and a number of other peaks closely approach this height. A few small but shrinking [[glacier]]s remain. Much of the Pyrenees is snowbound in winter, some of the higher passes not reopening until early summer.
Important towns in the vicinity of the range include Biarritz, Pau, Tarbes, [[Lourdes]], Foix and Perpignan in France, and San Sebastian, Pamplona, Girona and Figueres in Spain.
== Economy ==
[[Image:PyreneanPony.jpg|thumb]]
The Pyrenees remain almost entirely rural, and a considerable exodus of population has taken place in recent years. There have been a number of major construction schemes to make road and rail links across the mountains, but these have brought little permanent employment to the region.
*Tourism is of major importance in the area. Environmentally destructive ski-resort developments have attracted major investment, but with recent warm winters and the threat of [[global warming]], are increasingly risky ventures, and some smaller resorts have already closed down.
*Traditional farming remains common; [[cow|cattle]] and [[horse|ponies]] are farmed for meat, and [[sheep]] for both meat and milk, which is made into [[cheese]] on the spot by the shepherds. The animals are grazed in the high meadows in summer, and herded down into the valleys in winter.
*[[Wine]] - There is substantial localised production of wine of excellent quality from vineyards all along the range on both sides.
*[[Tobacco]] is a major crop in Andorra.
* Mining has historically taken place in the area for [[iron]], [[bauxite]], [[tungsten]], [[talc]] and [[fluorite]], among other things, and continues on a smaller scale today.
== Wildlife ==
The extensive wilderness areas and low population density of the Pyrenees region provides habitat for many species of animal. Of particular interest are;
*The European brown [[bear]], which continues to inhabit the Pyrenees in very low numbers. Additional animals have recently been imported from [[Slovenia]] to boost the population.
*The Pyrenean [[desman]] is a curious aquatic insectivore [[endemic]] to the region.
*The Pyrenean [[frog]] is a recently discovered endemic species, breeding only in meltwater lakes at altitudes above 6,000 feet.
*The [[chamois]] is distributed throughout the range. The Pyrenean subspecies of [[ibex]] became extinct recently, but may become the subject of a [[cloning]] programme.
*Small numbers of [[lynx]] occur in some parts of the mountains.
*The [[lammergeier]] breeds in the central Pyrenees. Griffon and Egyptian [[vulture]]s are more common. Golden [[eagle]]s, [[kite]]s and many other birds of prey also breed here.
*The [[ptarmigan]] inhabits the mountain tops.
*[[Salamander]]s inhabit springs in the high mountains.
*There are a number of endemic plant species, notably the Pyrenean yam and the insectivorous long-leaved butterwort.
== Leisure activities ==
*Walking. Three [[long-distance footpath]]s run from end to end of the range; the GR10 in France, the GR11 in Spain, and the HRP, running along the shortest (and most mountainous) route from coast to coast. Many other shorter paths also exist.
*[[Mountaineering]] is popular, noted localities including Aiguestortes, Maladeta and the Ordesa area.
*Caving - The Pyrenees contains a number of deep and historic [[cave]] systems, notably the Gouffre de la Pierre St Martin and the Gouffre Martel.
*[[Skiing]]. There are a number of sizeable ski resorts in all three Pyrenean countries.
*Various other outdoor pursuits such as paragliding, canyoning, white-water rafting, etc can be found throughout the range.
*Hunting and shooting. [[Wild boar]], [[deer]] and [[pigeon]]s are popular local quarries.
*[[Cycling]] - The [[Tour de France]] and Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain) races both hold a number of stages in the mountains, attracting large numbers of spectators, and recreational cycling is also surprisingly popular.
Important towns in the vicinity of the range include Biarritz, Pau, Tarbes, [[Lourdes]], Foix and Perpignan in France, and San Sebastian, Pamplona, Girona and Figueres in Spain.
== Economy ==
[[Image:PyreneanPony.jpg|thumb]]
The Pyrenees remain almost entirely rural, and a considerable exodus of population has taken place in recent years. There have been a number of major construction schemes to make road and rail links across the mountains, but these have brought little permanent employment to the region.
*Tourism is of major importance in the area. Environmentally destructive ski-resort developments have attracted major investment, but with recent warm winters and the threat of [[global warming]], are increasingly risky ventures, and some smaller resorts have already closed down.
*Traditional farming remains common; [[cow|cattle]] and [[horse|ponies]] are farmed for meat, and [[sheep]] for both meat and milk, which is made into [[cheese]] on the spot by the shepherds. The animals are grazed in the high meadows in summer, and herded down into the valleys in winter.
*[[Wine]] - There is substantial localised production of wine of excellent quality from vineyards all along the range on both sides.
*[[Tobacco]] is a major crop in Andorra.
* Mining has historically taken place in the area for [[iron]], [[bauxite]], [[tungsten]], [[talc]] and [[fluorite]], among other things, and continues on a smaller scale today.
== Wildlife ==
The extensive wilderness areas and low population density of the Pyrenees region provides habitat for many species of animal. Of particular interest are;
*The European brown [[bear]], which continues to inhabit the Pyrenees in very low numbers. Additional animals have recently been imported from [[Slovenia]] to boost the population.
*The Pyrenean [[desman]] is a curious aquatic insectivore [[endemic]] to the region.
*The Pyrenean [[frog]] is a recently discovered endemic species, breeding only in meltwater lakes at altitudes above 6,000 feet.
*The [[chamois]] is distributed throughout the range. The Pyrenean subspecies of [[ibex]] became extinct recently, but may become the subject of a [[cloning]] programme.
*Small numbers of [[lynx]] occur in some parts of the mountains.
*The [[lammergeier]] breeds in the central Pyrenees. Griffon and Egyptian [[vulture]]s are more common. Golden [[eagle]]s, [[kite]]s and many other birds of prey also breed here.
*The [[ptarmigan]] inhabits the mountain tops.
*[[Salamander]]s inhabit springs in the high mountains.
*There are a number of endemic plant species, notably the Pyrenean yam and the insectivorous long-leaved butterwort.
== Leisure activities ==
*Walking. Three [[long-distance footpath]]s run from end to end of the range; the GR10 in France, the GR11 in Spain, and the HRP, running along the shortest (and most mountainous) route from coast to coast. Many other shorter paths also exist.
*[[Mountaineering]] is popular, noted localities including Aiguestortes, Maladeta and the Ordesa area.
*Caving - The Pyrenees contains a number of deep and historic [[cave]] systems, notably the Gouffre de la Pierre St Martin and the Gouffre Martel.
*[[Skiing]]. There are a number of sizeable ski resorts in all three Pyrenean countries.
*Various other outdoor pursuits such as paragliding, canyoning, white-water rafting, etc can be found throughout the range.
*Hunting and shooting. [[Wild boar]], [[deer]] and [[pigeon]]s are popular local quarries.
*[[Cycling]] - The [[Tour de France]] and Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain) races both hold a number of stages in the mountains, attracting large numbers of spectators, and recreational cycling is also surprisingly popular.