The Pyrenees Mountains

Welcome to the forbidding and very ancient Pyrenees Mountains!

These mountains are older than the Alps and form a natural barrier between France and Spain.

This ancient mountain range is divided into the "Western Pyrenees", the "Central Pyrenees" and the "Eastern Pyrenees" and in the Central Pyrenees is a little country called Angora. It is mostly known for its ski resorts.

The Pyrenees Mountains have a number of unique geological features. 

The first are the high mountain raging rivers! These are called "gaves" and they often create spectacular waterfalls:

Then there are the cirques - these create the "hanging valleys" of the Pyrenees.

AND there are sulphur and saline hot springs. Cue the science experiment!

The science experiment demonstrates how hot water "rises" and cold water "falls". When you mix hot and cold water, if the hot water is on top - then it will remain on top but if the hot water is on the bottom - it will mix with the cold water. Thus as water warms in the earth - it needs to push out in the form of hot springs.

Full explaination is here: https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/water-convection-science-project/

Meet the Pyrenean Desman - it's a rat - it's a vole - it's an anteater? Nope - it's this <link for video>

The Pyrenean Chamois is an Isard that lives in the Pyrenees. At one point it was almost hunted to extinction for its Chamois leather.

The Alpine Marmot is a large rodent that lives in the mountains. 

Check out a video on these adorable critters here. 

There is also the smallest of the brown bear family:

The fast and flighty red squirrel:

The wild boar:

And the pine marten! Check out a video here!

Enjoy!