Changes

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.

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.

*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. Others ski resorts have attempted to diversify by attracting more summer tourists.

*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.  

*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.