The Montcalm Massif (French: Massif du Montcalm, Catalan: Massís del Montcalm) is a mountain massif located in the Pyrenees, at the border between France and Spain, with an altitude of 3077 metres above sea level.[1]

Montcalm Massif
Pic de Montcalm seen from the Vicdessos valley
Highest point
Elevation3,077 m (10,095 ft)
Coordinates42°40′00″N 1°24′30″E / 42.66667°N 1.40833°E / 42.66667; 1.40833
Geography
Montcalm Massif is located in Pyrenees
Montcalm Massif
Montcalm Massif
Location in the Pyrenees
LocationAriège, France
Pallars Sobirà, Spain
Parent rangePyrenees
Geology
Mountain typeGranite
Climbing
First ascentCoraboeuf and Testu, 1827
Easiest routeFrom Alins or Auzat
The Estany de Canalbona, located in the massif

Some of the summits are over 3,000 m high and the highest mountain in Catalonia (Pica d'Estats), as well as the highest mountain in Ariège (Pic de Montcalm), are part of this massif.[2]

Protected areas

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The Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées ariégeoises is located on the French side of the massif area[3] and the Parc Natural de l'Alt Pirineu on the Spanish side.[4]

Climbing some of the summits is not easy and there have been occasional accidents involving overconfident mountaineers.[5]

The Estany de Canalbona or Estanyol Occidental de Canalbona is a pristine glacial lake located in the Montcalm Massif between the Pic de Canalbona and the Rodó de Canalbona, at the base of the "Collet Fals" near the "Pica d'Estats". The lake drains towards the Catalan side. The lake stays frozen most of the year, but the ice is usually totally melted at the end of the summer.

Summits

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Some of the main summits are:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mapa Topogràfic de Catalunya". Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya. Retrieved May 22, 2010..
  2. ^ Juan Buysé, Los Tresmiles del Pirineo, un estudio enciclopédico. 3a ed. Editorial Martínez Roca, Barcelona, 1993
  3. ^ Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées ariégeoises
  4. ^ Parc Natural de l'Alt Pirineu
  5. ^ Massif du Montcalm : chute mortelle à 2 700 m
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