Did you know that the Pyrenees cover more than 430 km between Spain and France?
Maybe, if you don’t live in Europe, you wonder if the Pyrenees are French or Spanish. Both statements would be correct since the Pyrenees have their Spanish side and their French side. Both are very beautiful but different.
The Pyrenees is a mountain chain of peaks topped by glaciers, impressive waterfalls, and magnificent geological formations.
Many of the most significant natural wonders of the Pyrenees are found in protected areas such as Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park; the Pyrenees National Park or the Ordesa y Viñamala Biosphere Reserve, among others. These places provide a haven for an astonishing variety of wildlife.
Discover 5 of the natural wonders that you can visit in the Spanish Pyrenees in summer, autumn and spring.
IBONES OF ANAYET
“Ibón” is the word we use in Aragon to refer to the small mountain lakes of glacial origin located in the Pyrenees, generally above 2000 meters of altitude.
In the Ordesa y Viñamala Biosphere Reserve is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Pyrenees, Anayet, located under the impressive peak of the same name, Anayet (2,545m) and from where we can also see the colossal Midi D ‘Ossau (2,884m) from the French side.
ARCO DE PIEDRAFITA
Our number 2 is also located in the Ordesa y Viñamala Biosphere Reserve. Known as the Natural Arch of Piedrafita de Jaca, it is an arch-shaped formation resulting from erosive action over thousands of years.
CASCADA COLA DE CABALLO
The “Cola de Caballo” (horsetail) waterfall is just one of the many wonders that you will find in the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park.
The Cola de Caballo stands at 1,800 meters high and represents a 54-meter waterfall, one of the highest in Spain.
It is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Pyrenees and reaches its peak in late spring, which is a less hectic time to visit the park than during summer.
MALLOS DE RIGLOS
Picturesque rock formations located in the pre-Pyrenean mountains. These are vertical walls, called “mallos”, 275 meters high. They are highly appreciated by climbing enthusiasts.
In 2016 it was declared a Natural Monument of the Mallos de Riglos, Agüero and Peña Rueba.
The Añisclo canyon is part of the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. It is one of the most spectacular places in Aragon, a deep canyon sculpted by intense karst action.
It is an impressive valley with a glacial cirque at its head, but later becomes encased in a 10 km deep canyon.
This is just a small sample of the wonders that you can find in the Pyrenees. If you have been wanting to visit these and many other natural places, find out about our trips to the Pyrenees.
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