PYRENEES, the name of that mountaiu-range which; separating France from Spain, extends 270 m. in length, and from 80 to 70 m. in breadth, from the gulf of Poses, in the Mediterranean, to the s.e. corner of the bay of Biscay. This mountain-system, covering an area estimated at 12,600 sq.m., consists of two great chains, one of which runs e. from the Bidassoa to the w. bank of the Noguera Pallaresa; and the other, originating in the Pic du Midi d'Ossau (9.510 ft.), hit. about 0° 25' w., a little to the n. of the former, extends eastward, and, after being intersected at the Val d'Aran by the Garonne and many smaller streams, reaches the Mediterranean, on the shores of which, immediately tt. of the gulf of Bosas, it terminates in the promontories of Norfeo and Crenz. Tile northern slopes of these mountains to the plains and undulating districts of the s.w. of France, are of gradual descent; while the southern slopes descend to the mountainoutt regions of northern Spain by steep terraces. That portion of this mountain-system in which the eastern part of the southern, and the western part of the northern chains parallel to each other, is called the high or middle Pyrenees—a district about 16 m. in length, and forming the wildest and most elevated portion of the whole System. In the s.w. of the middle Pyrenees is a series of lofty summits, beginning with the Pic du Midi de Pau (9,544 ft.), and ending with the barren Maladetta, whose highest point, the Pic de Ncthou or Malahite (11,168 ft.), is the highest summit in the system. Between these two summits, there are several upward of 10,000 ft. high, as wont Perdu (10,994 feet).. The north-eastern and less elevated portion of the middle Pyrenees forms a rampart, frequently interrupted by transverse valleys, and of which the principal summits are the Pic de Gavisos (8,170 ft.) and the Pic du Midi de Bareges (9,307 feet). The eastern pyre: nees rise in their highest summits into the region of perpetual snow, and as far as the sources of the Segre, form a mighty unbroken wall of rock. From this point, however,
they assunnv different character, decreasing in height, and being intersected by valleys. The west Pyrenees nowhere reach the snow-line, as their highest summit, the Pic d'Anie, does not rise above 7,500 feet. Forming at first ridges of from 0,000 to 7,000 ft., they decrease in height as they extend w., until, on the lower Bidassoa. they take the form of isolated masses about 3,000 ft. high. The average height of the Pyrenees is from 6,000 to 7,210 feet. At an almost equal elevation are most of the mountain-passes. These passes, called in sonic places cola, in others ports (Span. puerto), are about 100 in number, though only seven of them are practicable for wagons and cannon. The most important are the roads of St. Jean de Luz over the Bidassoa to Vittoria, St. Jean Pied du Port to Pampluna, and that from Perpignan over Junquera to Gerona. The Pyrenees comprise no extensive and long valleys. Generally, the valleys are small and caldron-shaped, and communicate by means of narrow passes. The rivers arc inconsiderable. The region of perpetual snow, which,, on the northern slopes of the mountains, begins at the height. of 8,137 ft., and on the southern slopes at 8,838 ft., comprises no extensive snow or ice tracts. Glaciers are few and small, and nowhere occur lower than 7,800 feet. On the warm and dry southern slopes, no glaciers occur. Few forests exist, and the steep walls of rock, parched by the sun and mid-day winds, are either quite bare, or are covered with low brush-wood and meager pasture. The more gradually declining northern slopes, on which snow and Springs are more abundant, show a richer vegetation, and are for the most part covered with lofty forests, and beautiful mountain pasture. Granite forms the kernel of the Pyrenean mountain-system, and is overlaid by chalk and sand stone masses. The Pyrenees are not rich in metals, but abound in mineral springs, of which the chief are those of Bagneres de Bigorre (q.v.), and Bareges.