Hautes-Pyrénées

Mountainous département in the Midi-Pyrénées region of France on the Spanish frontier; area 4,507 sq km/1,740 sq mi; population (1999 est) 222,400. The chief river is the Adour, with its tributaries the Arros and Gave de Pau; the Garonne is on the southeast frontier. There is much forest, and wheat, maize, vines, tobacco, flax, and chestnuts are grown. Marble and slate are quarried, lignite, zinc, manganese, and lead are found, and there are mineral springs. There are aeronautical, armaments, chemical, and engineering industries, and tourism is important, especially in ski resorts such as Val Louron, Peyragudes, and Cauterets Lys. The principal towns are Tarbes (the administrative centre), Argelés-Gazost, and Bagnères-de-Bigorre.

Physical The southern part of the département is very mountainous; the hills gradually descend to a plain in the north. In the northeast lies the desolate plateau of Lannemezan. It contains spurs of the Pyrénées, with the peaks of Vignemale (3,298 m/10,820 ft), Pic de Néouvieille (3,092 m/10,144 ft), and Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2,877 m/9,439 ft). Between the spurs are picturesque valleys, fertile in the lower parts.

The département is formed from parts of the former province of Gascony, including Bigorre.