Néouvielle massif


The Néouvielle massif is a group of mountains in the Pyrenees in France notable for its lakes and its microclimate. Much of the massif lies within the Néouvielle National Nature Reserve; this nature reserve was created in 1936 and is the third oldest in France.
The name Néouvielle derives from nèu vielha in the Occitan language – nèu meaning 'snow' and vielha meaning 'old' – and is thought to refer to the many glaciers that used to belong to the region.

Néouvielle group

This group is centred on Pic de Néouvielle and is composed of heavily glaciated granite peaks.
from above lac d'Aubert, with granite boulders and mountain pine

Pic Long-Campbieil group

This group lies to the south of the Néouvielle group and is outside the 'réserve naturelle du Néouvielle'.

Flora and fauna

The massif enjoys a variety of climatic influences and supports a wide variety of plant and animal species, including Pinus mugo subsp. uncinata which grows in abundance between elevations of 1,600–2,300 m, cross-leaved heath, the arctic marsh cinquefoil, 94 species of lichen and several Mediterranean species, as well as some 22 species of sphagnum moss in the bogs within the park.
Approximately 370 species of animal are found in the reserve, including capercaillie, grey partridge, golden eagle, griffon vulture, isard, midwife toad, ptarmigan and Seoanei's viper.
from lac d'Aumar

Lakes