Montcalm Massif
Encyclopedia
The Montcalm Massif is a mountain massif located in the Pyrenees
, at the border between France
and Spain
, it has an altitude of 3077 metres above sea level.
Some of the summits are over 3,000 m high and the highest mountain in Catalonia
(Pica d'Estats
), as well as the highest mountain in Ariège
(Pic de Montcalm), are part of this massif.
Climbing some of the summits is not easy and there have been occasional accidents involving overconfident mountaineers.
The Estany de Canalbona or Estanyol Occidental de Canalbona is a pristine glacial lake
located in the Montcalm Massif between the Pic de Canalbona
and the Rodó de Canalbona
, at the base of the "Collet Fals" near the "Pica d'Estats". The lake drains towards the Catalan side. The lake stays frozen most of the year, but the ice is usually totally melted at the end of the summer.
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, at the border between 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...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, it has an altitude of 3077 metres above sea level.
Some of the summits are over 3,000 m high and the highest mountain in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
(Pica d'Estats
Pica d'Estats
Pica d'Estats is a 3,143-m-high mountain in the Montcalm Massif, Pyrenees. on the Spanish–French border, and is the highest mountain in Catalonia....
), as well as the highest mountain in Ariège
Ariège
Ariège is a department in southwestern France named after the Ariège River.- History :Ariège is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from the counties of Foix and Couserans....
(Pic de Montcalm), are part of this massif.
Protected areas
The Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées ariégeoises is located on the French side of the massif area and the Parc Natural de l'Alt Pirineu on the Spanish side.Climbing some of the summits is not easy and there have been occasional accidents involving overconfident mountaineers.
The Estany de Canalbona or Estanyol Occidental de Canalbona is a pristine glacial lake
Glacial lake
A glacial lake is a lake with origins in a melted glacier. Near the end of the last glacial period, roughly 10,000 years ago, glaciers began to retreat. A retreating glacier often left behind large deposits of ice in hollows between drumlins or hills. As the ice age ended, these melted to create...
located in the Montcalm Massif between the Pic de Canalbona
Pic de Canalbona
Pic de Canalbona is a mountain of Catalonia, Spain. Located in the Montcalm Massif, Pyrenees, it has an altitude of above sea level.The Estanyol Occidental de Canalbona or Estany de Canalbona is a small glacial lake located between the Pic de Canalbona and the Rodó de Canalbona, at the base of the...
and the Rodó de Canalbona
Rodó de Canalbona
Rodó de Canalbona or Pic Rodó de Canalbona is a mountain of Catalonia. Located in the Montcalm Massif, Pyrenees, at the border between France and Spain, it has an altitude of 3004 metres above sea level....
, at the base of the "Collet Fals" near the "Pica d'Estats". The lake drains towards the Catalan side. The lake stays frozen most of the year, but the ice is usually totally melted at the end of the summer.
Summits
Some of the main summits are:- Pica d'EstatsPica d'EstatsPica d'Estats is a 3,143-m-high mountain in the Montcalm Massif, Pyrenees. on the Spanish–French border, and is the highest mountain in Catalonia....
, 3143 m - Pic de Montcalm, 3077 m
- Pic de SotlloPic de SotlloPic de Sotllo is a mountain of the Montcalm Massif. Located in the Pyrenees, at the border between France and Spain, it has an altitude of above sea level....
or Pic du port de Sullo, 3072 m - Pic VerdaguerPic VerdaguerPic Verdaguer or Pic de Verdaguer is a mountain of the Montcalm Massif. Located in the Pyrenees, at the border between France and Spain, it has an altitude of above sea level....
, 3131 m - Punta GabarroPunta GabarróPunta Gabarró or Punta de Gabarró is a mountain of the Montcalm Massif. Located in the Pyrenees, at the border between France and Spain, it has an altitude of 3105 metres above sea level....
, 3115 m - Rodo de CanalbonaRodó de CanalbonaRodó de Canalbona or Pic Rodó de Canalbona is a mountain of Catalonia. Located in the Montcalm Massif, Pyrenees, at the border between France and Spain, it has an altitude of 3004 metres above sea level....
, 3004 m - Pic de CanalbonaPic de CanalbonaPic de Canalbona is a mountain of Catalonia, Spain. Located in the Montcalm Massif, Pyrenees, it has an altitude of above sea level.The Estanyol Occidental de Canalbona or Estany de Canalbona is a small glacial lake located between the Pic de Canalbona and the Rodó de Canalbona, at the base of the...
, 2965 m