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Pre-Pyrenees

Coordinates: 42°20′N 1°0′E / 42.333°N 1.000°E / 42.333; 1.000
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Pre-Pyrenees
Montsec d'Ares, part of the Pyrenees Foothills
Dimensions
Length425 km (264 mi) E/W
Width40 km (25 mi) N/S
Geography
Topographic map of the Pyrenees
CountriesSpain and France
Range coordinates42°20′N 1°0′E / 42.333°N 1.000°E / 42.333; 1.000
Geology
OrogenyAlpine orogeny
Geomorphologic map of Catalonia:

The Pre-Pyrenees are the foothills of the Pyrenees.

Description

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As a mountainous system the Pre-Pyrenees are part of the Pyrenees. They run parallel to the main mountain range in a west to east direction.

On the French side the Pyrenees's slopes descend rather abruptly, thus on the northern side, the Pre-Pyrenees are confined to the Corbières Massif, towards the eastern end of the mountain system.[1] The Massif de Plantaurel further west deserves mention as well, although not as clearly a foothill.

On the Iberian side, however, the picture is very different: a large and complex system of foothill ranges stretches from Navarre, across northern Aragon, reaching the Mediterranean coast on the Catalan end of the Pyrenees. At the eastern end on the southern side lies a distinct area known as the Sub-Pyrenees.[2]

Main ranges

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Although the highest peaks in the Pre-Pyrenees are not as high as those in the Pyrenees proper, some of the ranges are quite massive, with summits reaching up to 2,600 m (8,500 ft).[3]

Northern slope

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Southern slope

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The main ranges are:

In Catalonia
In Aragon
In Navarre

Features

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Christophe Neff : Les Corbières maritimes – forment-elles un étage de végétation méditerranéenne thermophile masqué par la pression humaine ? In: Eric Fouache (Edit.): The Mediterranean World Environment and History. IAG Working Group on Geo-archeology, Symposium Proceedings. Environmental Dynamics and History in Mediterranean Areas, Paris, Université de Paris – Sorbonne 24 – 26 avril 2002. Paris, 2003, 191 – 202, (Elsevier France, ISBN 2-84299-452-3).
  2. ^ Jordi Sacasas i Lluís, Geografía de Catalunya, Publicacions L'Abadia de Montserrat. ISBN 978-84-8415-915-5
  3. ^ Pirineus-Prepirineus Archived 2008-07-23 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Luis Javier Cruchaga, Turbón y Sierra de Sis,Mapas excursionistas, no 12 PRAMES 2002 ISBN 84-8321-123-8
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