Pyrenees

The Pyrenees are a major European mountain range forming a natural border between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. They stretch about 430 kilometers (267 miles) from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean, separating Spain and Andorra from France. The range traverses northern Spain (Aragon, Catalonia, Navarre), southern France (Occitanie, Nouvelle-Aquitaine), and includes the microstate of Andorra in the eastern portion.

Geology and peaks: The crest runs roughly east–west, and the highest summit is Aneto in central Spain at 3,404 meters (11,168 feet). The mountains were raised during the Alpine orogeny by the collision of the Iberian and European plates in the late Cretaceous to early Cenozoic. They consist mainly of limestone and sandstone, with granite intrusions in some massifs. The range was extensively glaciated in the past; today only a few small glaciers remain.

Climate and ecology: Elevation creates habitats from oak valleys to conifer forests and alpine meadows. The northern side tends to be wetter than the southern. Native fauna includes the Pyrenean chamois, Iberian ibex, and marmots; brown bears occur in western parts. Protected areas preserve biodiversity, including Pyrenees National Park (France), Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park (Spain), and Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park (Catalonia).

Human use and protection: The mountains have long served as travel routes with historic passes and modern road and rail links. Andorra lies within the range, and Catalan, French, and Spanish cultural influences are evident along its length. Tourism, skiing, hiking, and pastoral activities support local economies, reinforced by cross-border infrastructure such as tunnels and passes and by protected areas designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site (Pyrénées–Mont Perdu).