Today we are going to talk about the famous mountains that are forming a natural barrier between France and Spain. It is about the Pyrenees. It is a mountain range that separates the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe. They are one of the most recognized mountains in all of Europe and one of the most outstanding mountain ranges in the world. It is known by the name of Pyrénées in French, Pirineus in Catalan and Pirinioak or Auñamendiak in Basque.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics, origin, flora and fauna of the Pyrenees.
Key features
It is located in southwestern Europe and this entire region includes the small country of Andorra. The name of the mountains comes from Pirene who is a princess in Greek mythology who was loved by Hercules. With the passage of time these mountains have been acquiring more and more relevance and importance in the culture of the surrounding populations. Not only in their stories, but also in their activities. It is a custom in the Pyrenees to do transhumance grazing in which cattle are moved from farms to higher up in the mountains during the summer season.
Today we know that both sides of the Pyrenees are popular destinations for both recreational activities and mountaineering. A protected natural area boasts a great diversity of flora and fauna. In France, the Pyrenees National Park has a higher environmental protection regime. The goal is to preserve the richness of the ecosystem as naturally as possible. You can explore more about biodiversity in the section on biodiversity. most important mountains in Spain.
Throughout the entire mountain range there are more than 50 peaks that exceed 3.000 meters in height. The mountain chain has a total length of about 491 kilometers between France, Spain and Andorra. It is made up of two chains that run parallel from east to west from the north of the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Biscay. It can be said that the entire mountain system is practically a straight line. It is physiographically divided into 3 sections: eastern, central and western.. Most of the highest peaks are usually found in the central section.
The largest peak is the Aneto with a height of 3.404 meters. It is followed by Posets peak, with 3,375 meters of altitude, and Monte Perdido, whose altitude is 3,355 meters. Unlike other mountain ranges in the world that have similar bills, the development of glaciers is somewhat weaker. There are some in the western and central zone but none in the eastern part. Although it is not stable, the snow level can vary according to the areas. It can normally reach 2.700 meters above sea level.
These are mountains that don't have large sides and aren't drained by very long rivers. What's notable about the Pyrenees is their numerous caves and underground rivers. To learn more about the climate that influences these mountains, you can read about the effects of climate change in the region.
Formation and climate of the Pyrenees
In the central Pyrenees area we find a dry and cold climate. However, in the eastern areas we have summers that tend to be considerably warm. The western section is more affected by the humid air currents that come from the Atlantic Ocean. Over the years the erosion of the different geological agents and the lack of the existence of large or significant glaciers make apparently the surface of the mountains worn away. However, they have been conserving their size for thousands of years. You can see canyons, rocky slopes and some karst plains that make the landscapes really theirs.
In some areas of the highest parts it has been possible to see old signs of possible glaciations that have left in evidence when seeing the formation of cirques and valleys in the form of U. We remember that the valleys in the form of V are typical of rivers and those that They have a U-shape and are the fruit of glaciers. There are some sources of thermal water that are rich in minerals.
Regarding its formation, some sediments have been obtained from the Pyrenees dating from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic. Nonetheless, its geological evolution dates back to the Precambrian. Its formation is due to the collision of the microcontinent Iberia and the southern part of the Eurasian plate. Both began to move and approach each other until they collided. As a result of the collision, the crust rose and the mountain range was formed. This occurred approximately 100-150 million years ago.
The central Pyrenees area consists mainly of Slate and granite whose rocks are approximately 200 million years old. It is also made up of limestone, sandstone, dolomite, and other sedimentary rock varieties. To learn more about the geology, we recommend reading about species threatened by climate change.
Flora and fauna of the Pyrenees
As we mentioned before, the Pyrenees have a rich biodiversity that we aim to conserve. Around 3.500 species of plants coexist, of which 200 of them are endemic. It must be taken into account that endemic species are unique to ecosystems and have a greater value in terms of conservation. Since rainfall is more abundant in the western part due to the influence of the Atlantic, we see that the vegetation is more exuberant. On the other hand, the eastern Pyrenees cannot cope with a large number of species.
The flora of the Pyrenees is composed of forests and alpine meadows, with some species standing out, such as the holm oak, the downy oak, the stone pine, and the juniper. Some of the trees have characteristics that are affected by the altitude at which they grow due to climatic conditions that can be studied in trees at altitudesAmong some of the unique endemic species of these ecosystems are the plants of the genus Xatardia.
As for the fauna, it is represented mainly by the Iberian desman. There are also some bears, and Iberian lynx, bearded vulture, Pyrenean newt, butterflies Erebia Rondoui and the mollusk Helicella nubigenaThe disappearance of habitats and some species is due to climate change, a phenomenon that you can read more about in the article on glacial redoubts in Spain.
Economist
There are some iron mines, coal and lignite deposits that are relatively scarce mineral resources when compared to other places. The economy of this place is based mainly on wood and grass. Some Streams are used to create hydroelectric plants. Talc and zinc are extracted from here. The surrounding towns are mainly engaged in agriculture and livestock.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Pyrenees and its characteristics.