Pyrénées National Park

Template:Short description Template:Infobox Protected area Pyrénées National Park (Template:Langx; Template:Langx) is a French national park located within the departments of Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques.<ref name="parc">Le Parc national des Pyrénées (2014). Le Parc national des Pyrénées, un établissement public. Retrieved on 2014-04-19 from {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}.</ref><ref>Fact sheet Template:Webarchive on hautes-pyrenees.gouv.fr.</ref> The park is located along the border of France and Spain along the Pyrenees Mountains, with a scenic landscape offering a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, skiing, mountain climbing and observing wildlife.<ref>Pyrenees National Park (Parc National des Pyrenees). Trip Advisor. Retrieved on 2008-02-02 from http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187166-d254589-Reviews-Pyrenees_National_Park_Parc_National_des_Pyrenees-Midi_Pyrenees.html.</ref><ref name= "unesco">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Description

Located in the Pyrenees mountains, Pyrenees National Park protects many limestone landforms, including karst valleys and caves. Repeated glaciations within the Quaternary created multiple cirques such as the immense Cirque de Gavarnie and large U-shaped valleys within the park.<ref name = "GR2014">Template:Cite book</ref> The limestone originated from the Cretaceous and Eocene periods. Tectonic uplift has created deep canyons, and, during the Quaternary, repeated glaciations carved cirques and large U-shaped valleys.<ref name = "GR2014"/>

The park was created in 1967 as a natural heritage site without barriers or fences where animals are totally free.<ref>Template:Usurped Retrieved on February 2, 2008</ref> Devoted to preserving biodiversity and landscapes, as well as studying wildlife and plant species, the park is home to 70 different species of mammals.<ref>Discovering Pyrenees National Park. Official Web site. Retrieved on 2008-02-02 from {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}.</ref> Threatened species found in the park include the lammergeier, Pyrenean desman, Pyrenean chamois, and capercaillie.<ref = "F11">Template:Cite journal</ref> A small population of bears also inhabit the park. At least 124 plant species have been observed within the national park, including 25 that are endemic to the Pyrenees mountains.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The eastern portion of the national park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, forming part of the French section of the Pyrénées – Mont Perdu World Heritage Site that straddles the border between France and Spain.<ref name=wcmc>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name = "unesco"/> The park also borders on the Lacs de Carnau.Template:Fact

Pyrénées National Park, here on the foothills of the Aspe Valley, on the border between France and Spain
The Pyrénées National Park, Cirque de Gavarnie, Gave de Gavarnie river