Pre-Pyrenees

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Pre-Pyrenees
SERRAT DE FONTFREDA - MONTSEC D'ARES - IB-530.jpg
Montsec d'Ares, part of the Pyrenees Foothills
Dimensions
Length425 km (264 mi)E/W
Width40 km (25 mi)N/S
Geography
Pyrenees topographic map-en.svg
Topographic map of the Pyrenees
Countries
Range coordinates 42°20′N1°0′E / 42.333°N 1.000°E / 42.333; 1.000
Geology
Orogeny Alpine orogeny
Geomorphologic map of Catalonia:
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Pyrenees
Pre-Pyrenees
Catalan Central Depression
Smaller mountain ranges of the Central Depression
Catalan Transversal Range
Catalan Pre-Coastal Range
Catalan Coastal Range
Catalan Coastal Depression and other coastal and pre-coastal plains Catmorfo.png
Geomorphologic map of Catalonia:

The Pre-Pyrenees are the foothills of the Pyrenees.

Contents

Description

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

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

Southern slope

The main ranges are:

In Catalonia
In Aragon
In Navarre

Features

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Seu d'Urgell</span> Municipality in Catalonia, Spain

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montsec Range</span>

The Montsec Range is a mountain system of the Pre-Pyrenees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corbières Massif</span> Mountain range in the Pre-Pyrenees in France

The Corbières Massif is a mountain range in the Pre-Pyrenees. It is the only true foothill of the Pyrenees on their northern side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sistema Ibérico</span> Major system of mountain ranges in Spain

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catalan Pre-Coastal Range</span> System of mountain ranges in Catalonia

The Catalan Pre-Coastal Range is a system of mountain ranges running parallel to the Mediterranean Sea coast in Catalonia. It is part of the Catalan Mediterranean System. Its main axis runs between the Catalan Transversal Range and the Serra de l'Espina, which connects with the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit, part of the Iberian System. The highest point is 1,706.7 m at the Montseny Massif.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serra del Cadí</span>

The Serra del Cadí is a mountain range in the north of Catalonia, Spain, part of the Pre-Pyrenees. Its highest peak is the Vulturó, with an altitude of 2,648 metres (8,688 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catalan Central Depression</span> Depression in Catalonia

The Catalan Central Depression is a natural depression between the Pre-Pyrenees and the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range in Spain. It widens towards the west, linking with the Ebro Depression, Catalan: Depressió de l'Ebre, of which it could be considered an eastern extension. The Catalan Central Depression is about 180 km long with an average width of 50 km.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Turbón</span>

El Turbón is a mountain massif of the Pre-Pyrenees, located in the province of Huesca, the most northerly province in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. This 6.3 km (4 mi) long mountain is aligned N - S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountains of Sis</span> Mountain in Spain

The Mountains of Sis is a 28 km (17 mi) long mountain range of the Pre-Pyrenees. They are located between the valleys of rivers Isábena and the Escales Reservoir, Noguera Ribagorzana, in the Ribagorza comarca, Aragon, Spain. The ridge's highest summits are Pico de l´Amorriador (1791 m) and Puialto (1782 m). Other important summits are 1765 m high La Creu de Bonansa, 1490 m high Altaió d'Aulet and 1066 m high Tossal de Cornudella.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardó Massif</span> Mountain massif in Catalonia, Spain

The Cardó Massif, also known as Cardó-Boix Massif, is a mountain massif in the Baix Ebre comarca, in Catalonia, Spain. This massif is composed of a number of mountain ranges located on the left side of the Ebro river near Tortosa. The massive calcareous cliffs of the Serra de Cardó form the eastern side of the spectacular gorges through which the Ebro River winds its way in the final stage of its course, separating the Ebro Valley from the Mediterranean coastal area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serra de la Vall d'àngel</span>

Serra de la Valldàngel or Serra de la Vall d'Àngel,, is a mountain range in the Baix Maestrat comarca, Castellón Province, Valencian Community, Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serra de Moixeró</span>

The Serra de Moixeró is a mountain range running across the north of Catalonia (Spain), part of the Pre-Pyrenees. Along with the adjacent Serra del Cadí, Pedraforca and parts of Tosa d'Alp and Puigllançada, it forms part of the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, established in 1983.

References

  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