The extreme aridity of the high areas, where rainwater and meltwater seeps through cracks and sinkholes, contrasts with the green valleys covered by forests and meadows, where the water forms waterfalls and runs through canyons and ravines.
– Declaration date: August 16, 1918. Reclassification: Law 52/1982 of July 13.
– Surface: 15,608 hectares
– Coordinates: 42º40’18”N 0º3’20”E
– Telephone: (+34) 974243361
– Supranational networks: Biosphere Reserve (1977). Council of Europe Diploma for Conservation (1988, 1993, 1998)
– UNESCO World Heritage (1997). SPA (1988)
– Letter of cooperation between the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, and the Parc National des Pyrénées in France.
There are five sectors: the Monte Perdido massif and four valleys that unfold towards the Spanish side.
Open, spacious valley, run along its entire length by the Arazas River, until its confluence with the Ara, has a clear glacial origin with a trough shape or U profile, the result of an erosive activity completed by the river imprint. A valley with a special structure and unique geological aspects, characteristic relief and shape, determined by its calcareous nature.
– Arazas Waterfalls: the Arazas River runs for 12km along the bottom of the Ordesa Valley. Its numerous waterfalls are worth highlighting: the Cola de Caballo in the Soaso circus, the Gradas de Soaso, the waterfalls of Estrecho, Cueva, Arripas and the lesser-known waterfalls of Abetos, Tamborrotera and Molinieto.
– Carriata Cirque: Lateral circus of glacial origin. The characteristic relief of Tozal del Mallo stands out, with 300 meters of vertical wall.
– Cotatuero Cirque: Large glacial cirque, located east of Carriata. It has a delicate step with pegs that allow you to overcome the impressive verticality of rocky terrain.
– Soaso Cirque: Head of the Arazas River valley where you can appreciate the beauty of the famous Cola de Caballo waterfall. Access point to the Góriz refuge, one hour away. Panoramic of the Three Sorores.
– Faja de Pelay: Suspended cornice that allows excellent panoramic views of the Arazas River canyon. It must be accessed by taking the slope Senda de Cazadores in La Pradera de Ordesa to the viewpoint of the Calcilarruego bow. It is not recommended to take the sash from the Soaso circus.
– Turieto Bajo Forest
The Monte Perdido Massif, of limestone nature, clearly illustrates decisive episodes of the Pyrenean orogeny. Due to its altitude and central position in the Pyrenean chain, it is also a place of important climatic contrasts that in turn condition the establishment of varied biological environments, particular to this massif and that tend to favor biodiversity.
– Góriz Refuge: Guarded mountain refuge, starting point and starting point for numerous ascents and treks through the Monte Perdido massif. Capacity for 100 people with priority for federated members.
– Llanos de Millares between the Góriz refuge and the Rolando Gap.
– Monte Perdido with 3,355 meters of altitude, is the highest point of the National Park and the third highest peak in the Pyrenees. It is part, along with the Soum de Ramond and the Cylinder, of the Tres Sorores or Treserols massif.
– Brecha de Rolando at 2,807 meters above sea level, 100 meters high by 40 meters wide, opens the border crossing between Spain and France.
Narrow valley through which the Bellós River seeks its outlet, which crosses secluded natural corners, nestled in a grandiose river gorge. From the top, the view is impressive.
– Las Cambras Gorge: Lower part of the Añisclo Canyon that is traversed by a paved road.
– Caves of San Úrbez and los Moros. The first, near the bridge of the same name, makes up a hole in the Sestrales wall where there is a hermitage dedicated to this saint who lived in these lands. The Moorish Cave, next to the remains of the Aso mill.
– Bosque de la Ripareta: Wooded mass of beech trees at the confluence of the Pardina ravine with the Bellós river.
– San Housing Shelter: Traditional shepherds’ shelter. Its location in the upper part of the Añisclo Canyon allows you to admire a superb landscape with the Tres Sorores massif in the background.
The majestic spectacle of the Pineta Walls over the twelve kilometers of the valley, offers in the shady striated walls where the strata are stacked in a disorderly manner only in appearance. In the sunshine, forests and meadows with much softer and more peaceful forms. Higher up the Marboré plateau, at the foot of the giant massif and its glacier, collects moraines and gives life to the Cinca River.
– La Larri track, with restricted access, from the vicinity of the Parador Nacional de Pineta, it circles the lower part of the Pineta circus.
– Pineta Waterfall
– Balcón de Pineta and Lake Marboré: Upper part of the Pineta cirque, located under the northern and icy face of Monte Perdido, on which the waters of Lake Marboré or Tucarroya rest. Difficult and dangerous to access during the winter season.
– Collado de Añisclo: Collado that from the Pineta valley gives way to the Añisclo Canyon, crossing the Monte Perdido massif through the western sector of the Sierra de las Tucas.
Although it presents analogies with its neighboring valleys of Ordesa and Añisclo, it is not similar to them and, quite appropriately, it is not a gorge or cut, but a formidable joint, open in the middle of the mountain, Briet would say. Cirques, lapiaces, chasms and ravines make up the sunny side of the massif. From any angle you can discover the work of man who shaped the landscape for generations. It is precisely the harmony established between nature and human settlement that gives this valley its originality and greatness.
– Bridge and path of the Mallos. In Alto Aragón, the monoliths or rocky outcrops that stand out due to their size in the landscape are known as “mallos”. From Revilla it connects the two slopes of the valley.
– Anlitonés Viewpoint, perfect for admiring the most evocative landscapes of the Yaga River and the curious phenomenon of thermal inversion that occurs in these narrow canyons of Alto Aragón.
– Viceto Neck: A hill that, at 2,010 meters, separates the Añisclo and Escuaín valleys.
Biosphere Reserve
Likewise, although it does not belong to the National Park, it is worth highlighting the Bujaruelo valley in the western area. Less known than Ordesa, it has nothing to envy. This valley is open and spacious, and the Ara River is born there. It is worth knowing it.
It is accessed by following the access road to the Ordesa Valley: at the Los Navarros bridge, taking the track that goes out to the left you can reach the San Nicolás de Bujaruelo meadow.
From here you can take excursions through the four valleys:
– Otal Valley
– Ordiso Valley (waterfalls and suspension bridge)
– Sandaruelo Valley (Gabarnie and Bernatuara)
– Ara Valley
The Tendeñera massif and the Vignemale stand out.
Already on the French side: the Gavarnie Valley and Cirque, another impressive glacial cirque that at its head has the highest waterfall in Europe, with more than 400 meters of vertical drop.
