Pyrenees of Spain, France, and Andorra

The Pyrenees, formed by the collision of African and European tectonic plates over 50 million years, showcase a complex geological narrative of continental collisions, fold-thrust belts, salt tectonics, and evolving sedimentary basins. This geo-tour traverses the eastern and central Pyrenees, revealing key features such as thrust faults, growth strata, evaporite detachment horizons, and large fan deltas. The journey covers 1,250 km through UNESCO Global Geoparks, national parks, natural parks, and World Heritage Sites, including Montserrat and Monte Perdido/Pyrénées – Mont Perdu. It highlights the interplay between tectonics and sedimentation during rifting, compression, and basin inversion, along with peridotites exposed by crustal extension. The Pyrenees' stunning landscapes—hot springs, waterfalls, glacial valleys, and jagged peaks—offer a rich tapestry of geological and human history.

Prost, G. L. (2025). Pyrenees of Spain, France, and Andorra. Western Europe’s Natural Wonders, 99–349. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003435594-2