Néouvielle massif
Encyclopedia
The Néouvielle massif is a group of mountains in the Pyrenees
in France
notable for its lakes and its microclimate
. Much of the massif lies within the 23.13 square kilometre Néouvielle National Nature Reserve; this nature reserve
was created in 1936 and is the third oldest in France.
The name Néouvielle ('old snow') derives from nèu vielha in the Occitan language – nèu meaning 'snow' and vielha meaning 'old' – and is thought to refer to the many glaciers that used to belong to the region.
(a subspecies of mountain pine) which grows in abundance between elevations of 1,600–2,300 m, cross-leaved heath, the arctic marsh cinquefoil
, 94 species of lichen
and several Mediterranean species, as well as some 22 species of sphagnum moss in the bogs within the park.
Approximately 370 species of animal are found in the reserve, including capercaillie
, grey partridge
, golden eagle
, griffon vulture
, isard
, midwife toad
, ptarmigan and Seoanei's viper
.
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
notable for its lakes and its microclimate
Microclimate
A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area. The term may refer to areas as small as a few square feet or as large as many square miles...
. Much of the massif lies within the 23.13 square kilometre Néouvielle National Nature Reserve; this nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
was created in 1936 and is the third oldest in France.
The name Néouvielle ('old snow') derives from nèu vielha in the Occitan language – nèu meaning 'snow' and vielha meaning 'old' – and is thought to refer to the many glaciers that used to belong to the region.
Néouvielle group
This group is centred around Pic de Néouvielle and is composed of heavily glaciated granite peaks.- Pic de NéouviellePic de NéouviellePic de Néouvielle is a mountain in the Néouvielle massif in the Pyrenees.It is located in the commune of Saint-Lary-Soulan within the department of the Hautes-Pyrénées, and lies on the border between the Pyrenees National Park and the Néouvielle National Park...
3,091 m - Pic des Trois Conseillers 3,039 m
- Turon de Néouvielle 3,035 m
- Pic RamougnPic RamougnPic Ramougn is a steep, rocky mountain in the Néouvielle massif in the Pyrenees.It is located in the commune of Saint-Lary-Soulan within the department of the Hautes-Pyrénées, and is named after the French politician, geologist and botanist Louis Ramond de Carbonnières. Ramougn is the...
3,011 m - Pic de la Coume de l'Ours 2,855 m
- Pic de la Morèle 2,679 m
- Pic de la Hèche Castet 2,568 m
- Pic Prudent 2,287 m
Pic Long-Campbieil group
This group lies to the south of the Néouvielle group and is outside the 'réserve naturelle du Néouvielle'.- Pic LongPic LongPic Long is the highest mountain in the Néouvielle massif in the Pyrenees.It is located in the commune of Saint-Lary-Soulan within the department of the Hautes-Pyrénées.-External links:*...
3,192 m - Pic de Campbieil 3,173 m
- Pic Badet 3,160 m
- Pic Maou 3,074 m
- Pic Maubic 3,058 m
- Pic de Buggaret 3,031 m
- Pic de Crabounouse 3,021 m
- Dent d'Estibère 3,017 m
- Pic d'Estaragne 3,006 m
- Pic des Halharisès 2,995 m
- Pic Méchant, 2,930 m
- Pic de BugatetPic de BugatetPic de Bugatet is a mountain in the Néouvielle massif in the Pyrenees, lying within the Néouvielle National Nature Reserve in the commune of Saint-Lary-Soulan within the department of the Hautes-Pyrénées....
2,877 m
Flora and fauna
The massif enjoys a variety of climatic influences and supports a wide variety of plant and animal species, including Pinus mugo subsp. uncinataMountain Pine
Pinus mugo, the Mountain Pine or Mugo Pine, is a high-altitude European pine, found in the Pyrenees, Alps, Erzgebirge, Carpathians, northern Apennines and Balkan Peninsula mountains from 1,000 m to 2,200 m, occasionally as low as 200 m in the north of the range in Germany and Poland, and as high...
(a subspecies of mountain pine) which grows in abundance between elevations of 1,600–2,300 m, cross-leaved heath, the arctic marsh cinquefoil
Potentilla palustris
Comarum palustre , known by the common names Purple Marshlocks, Swamp Cinquefoil and Marsh Cinquefoil, is a common waterside shrub. It has a Circumboreal distribution, occurring throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, particularly the northern regions...
, 94 species of lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
and several Mediterranean species, as well as some 22 species of sphagnum moss in the bogs within the park.
Approximately 370 species of animal are found in the reserve, including capercaillie
Capercaillie
The Western Capercaillie , also known as the Wood Grouse, Heather Cock or Capercaillie , is the largest member of the grouse family, reaching over 100 cm in length and 6.7 kg in weight. The largest one ever recorded in captivity had a weight of 7.2 kg....
, grey partridge
Grey Partridge
The Grey Partridge, Perdix perdix, also known as the English Partridge, Hungarian Partridge, or Hun, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds...
, golden eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
, griffon vulture
Griffon Vulture
The Griffon Vulture is a large Old World vulture in the bird of prey family Accipitridae.The Griffon Vulture is long with a wingspan. In the nominate race the males weigh and females typically weigh , while in the Indian subspecies the vultures average...
, isard
Pyrenean Chamois
The Pyrenean Chamois , Rupicapra pyrenaica, is a goat antelope that lives in the Pyrenees, Cantabrian Mountains and Apennine Mountains...
, midwife toad
Midwife toad
Midwife toads are a genus of frogs in the Discoglossidae family, and are found in most of Europe and northwestern Africa. Characteristic of these toad-like frogs is their parental care: the males carry a string of fertilised eggs on their back, hence the name "midwife". The female expels a strand...
, ptarmigan and Seoanei's viper
Vipera seoanei
Vipera seoanei is a venomous viper species found in extreme southwestern France and the northern regions of Spain and Portugal. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate race described here.-Description:...
.