Geography of Ariège

The Ariège is a department of the Région the Midday-Pyrenees, in the South-west of France. From a surface of 4890km ², it extends on the part Is Pyrénéenne chain, between the departments of the Haute-Garonne in the West and North, of the Aude and the the Eastern Pyrenees in the East, as well as Spain (Province of Lérida) and the Andorre in the South. This department has a great diversity from the geological point of view.

The Plain of Ariège

Lauragais

Located at the North-East of the department, the Lauragais extends in the form from broad very fertile small valleys composed of Molasse. This territory is thus characterized by its prosperous agriculture, in particular the culture of the Pastel. He is sometimes regarded as being the Pays of Feast, and is famous for his gastronomical products, like the Cassoulet. The Ariègeoise part of Lauragais is crossed by the Hers-Sharp , which is thrown in the Ariège with Cintegabelle.

The valley of Ariège

It extends from Foix in Piedmont Pyrénéen until the South of Toulouse where the river is thrown in the the Garonne. This valley is characterized by the recent sédimenteux deposit of the Ariège in the West (the " Grausses ") and of the older deposits in the East (" Boulbènes "). Of an average width of 5 km, the valley is regarded as floodplain on 1 km broad. The ground is primarily composed of alluvia, rollers and gravels which constitute nonargillaceous permeable grounds. In addition to its economic last fort due to the iron and steel industry, the valley develops an agriculture with strong irrigation (corn, mixed-farming).

The valley of Lèze

It extends in the septentrional part of the department, of Pailhès until Labarthe-on-Lèze (Haute-Garonne). Narrower than the valley of Ariège, it is primarily made up of small valleys of grounds argilo-limestones relating to marnes and Molasse S.

Pyrenean Piedmont

Chain of Plantaurel

This calcareous mountainous chain dates from the Jurassic , its name means " small Pyrénées". Not very high (between 500 and 1000m), it extends on a narrow tape over all the width from the department, of Is (Farmhouse-with Azil, country of the Volvestre) in West (Lavelanet, with the limit of the Pays of Olmes). Of share its constitution, it forms cliffs in its high part (Calcaire), and its marly base is softer. The vegetation is of type Xérophyte (lawns and shrubs while pouring Southern, coppice while pouring Northern).

Under-Pyrenean hills

They constitute an intermediary between the chain of Plantaurel and the High-Country with the more marked relief and high altitude. They are characterized by a great geological heterogeneity.

The area of Lavelanet

In the East of the department, one finds of Marnes and Calcaires dating from the Eocene . Marnes generate soft reliefs dug by the Hers, the Touyre and the Douctouyre. Limestones cause franker breaks in the relief, exploited very well by the Cathares (Castle of Roquefixade, Château of Montségur).

Country of Foix

The town of Foix is boxed in a granitic solid mass with the prominent rocks which highlight in particular its famous medieval castle. The city is dominated by the Prat d' Albis (1200m. of altitude) and Pradières (1000m. of altitude). To North Main road 20, main axe of North-South displacement of Ariège, passes by Tarascon-on-Ariège, then is inserted in the High valleys of Ariège (valley of Ax, valley of Vicdessos)).

the basin of Arize

Between Foix and St-Bosoms, One finds marnes dating from the higher Trias, and the Calcaire S Dolomie S of the Jurassic inferior. The hydrological network of the Arize to the characteristic to be rather directed East-West in order to circumvent the chain of Plantaurel to throw itself in the the Garonne. One finds in the passing certain singularities like the Grotte of the Farmhouse of Azil or the underground Rivière of Labouiche, sites very rich from the rupestral point of view.

Bas-Couserans

Bas-Couserans is located downstream from Saint-Bosoms between 350 and 700 m of altitude. The valley of Saint-Bosoms, crossed by the Salat, is rather composed of Dolomie S of the Jurassic Moyen and Higher and of marnes, sandstone and sandy limestones of the Crétacé. The vegetation is especially made up of meadows. The central valley of the Couserans is framed by the basin of Baup and the valley of the Arac (Massat) in the West, the high valleys of the Garbet, and Ustou to North, and the Castillonnais in the East. These valleys have a very rich and diversified inheritance (Thermal baths of Aulus-The-Baths, valley of the Bethmale, horse of Mérens).

The Ariégeois High-Country

The Ariègeois high-Country is very diversified from the geological point of view like from its vegetation. The high altitude of the solid masses (the Montcalm and the Mont Valier are the culmens department with 3077m and 2848m resp.), to the crystalline rocks and by place granitic eroded by the formations refrigerators, explain this diversity partly.

Haut-Couserannais

The Couserans extends on the South-eastern part of the department. The mountainous areas are made up of rocks Calcaire S (valley of Ustou), of some terraces of old alluvia and of glacis of silt be subject to solifluction (valley of the Garbet), of formations limestones and Schiste use (valleys of Bethmale, of Biros, Massat). This area has a very rich and preserved cultural heritage, tourism constitutes an important component of its economy (ski station of track of Guzet-snow, Thermalisme with Aulus-the-Baths, rich cultural heritage).

High-Ariège

Beyond Tarascon-on-Ariège, the highest solid masses extend from Ariège: the Vicdessos, the Aston, the Capcir. The valley of Vicdessos/Auzat separates 3 mountainous under-solid masses with the varied characteristics: solid mass of the Three-Lords in North (Peak of the Three-Lords, 2.199 m), together prémontagnard composed of Schist S and Flysch formed to the Cretaceous , solid mass of Bassies (Peak close to Puntussan, 2.698 m, Red Peak of Bassiès, 2.676 m) composed of rocks ic Granite dating from the Precambrian and the Hercynien, and the solid mass of the Montcalm (Spade of Estats, 3.144 m, located on the Spanish side), formation Schiste uses dating from the Paléozoïque. These solid masses are characterized by an alternation of weak zones of slope (Ombilic, Moraine, fall, colluviums) and deepening reachs to the rather strong slopes (rock exposures, scree cones).

The Solid mass of Aston and Capcir represent the same type of schistous formation as the solid mass of Montcalm. More the high summits are the majority located on the border zone between Ariège and the Andorre (Peak of the Port, 2.903 m, Pic of Will tighten, 2912m., Pic of Cabaneta, 2.847 m, Pic Carlit, 2.921 m). The 2 solid masses are separated by the valley from Ax-the-Thermal baths which gives access Andorre by the Port of Envalira (2 409 m) and with Make-Romeu (the Eastern Pyrenees) by the Col of Puymorens (1 920 m). Many a natural or artificial lakes occupies the steepsided valleys. The area was driving whatever the time from its activities of Forging mill (Orlu), hydro-electric (Barrage of Laparan), of Thermal baths (Ax-the-Thermal baths), of winter tourist activities (ski touring with the Plateau of Beille, skiing on piste to Ax-3 Domaines, Carried-Puymorens, Ascou-Pailhères, Mijanès, in the Andorran stations), or of estival tourist activities (climbing, parapente, excursions, water skiing).

The vegetation of the high Ariégeois solid masses depends primarily on altitude: one can distinguish 4 stages:

800-1 000 m (stage collinéen): species of moderated climate, it is the stage more modified by the man. The forests of sessile Oak and Oak stalk), of Lime, Wild cherry tree, Hazel tree, Chestnut, Medlar tree, service-tree often leave the place to scrap-metal landscapes (pastures and meadows of mowing, cultures). The skirts of forest and the clearings are made up of fern eagle, Genêt to brushes and Bruyère callune.
1.000-1 700 m (mountain stage): forests (Hêtraie in the low part, then fir plantation with éricacée S pouring Northern and woodland Pine Southern slope).
1.700-2 200 m (subalpine stage): landines raised (éricacée S, pines with hook) in the low part, then gradually a woody vegetation low (Rhododendron S).
> 2.200 m (alpine stage): graminaceous lawns with , Cypéracée S discontinuous following the ground.

In the umbilical points one finds lawns with Graminées or Cypéracées some is altitude.

Country of Olmes

In the south-west of the department, the Pays of Olmes is dominated by the Massif of Tabe, a formation of sedimentary rocks at the acute tops. Its major tops are the Pic of Soularac (2365 Mr.), the Pic of St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (2348 Mr.), the Mont Fourcat (2001 Mr.), and the Pic Fourcat (1929 Mr.). The ski station of the Monts of Olmes exploits the northern slope of this solid mass, while the exploitation of talc is carried out in the South-eastern part (career of Trimouns, Luzenac).

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