Editing Pyrenees (section)

=== Physiographical divisions ===
[[File:Monteperdido y Cilindro.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Monte Perdido]], [[Aragon]] (Spain)]]
[[Physical geography|Physiographically]], the Pyrenees may be divided into three sections: the Atlantic (or Western), the Central, and the Eastern Pyrenees. Together, they form a distinct physiographic province of the larger Alpine System division.

In the Western Pyrenees, from the [[Basque mountains]] near the [[Bay of Biscay]] of the Atlantic Ocean, the average elevation gradually increases from west to east.

The Central Pyrenees extend eastward from the [[Somport]] pass to the [[Aran Valley]], and they include the highest summits of this range:<ref name=EB1911/>
* [[Pico de Aneto]] {{convert|3404|m|ft|0}} in the Maladeta ridge,<ref name=EB1911/>
* [[Pico Posets]] {{convert|3375|m|ft|0}},<ref name=EB1911/>
* [[Monte Perdido]] {{convert|3355|m|ft|0}}.<ref name=EB1911/>

In the Eastern Pyrenees, with the exception of one break at the eastern extremity of the ''Pyrénées Ariégeoises'' in the [[Ariège (department)|Ariège]] area, the mean elevation is remarkably uniform until a sudden decline occurs in the easternmost portion of the chain known as the [[Albères]].<ref name=EB1911/>

==== Foothills ====
{{main|Pre-Pyrenees}}
Most [[foothill]]s of the Pyrenees are on the Spanish side, where there is a large and complex system of ranges stretching from Spanish [[Navarre]], across northern Aragon and into Catalonia, almost reaching the [[Mediterranean]] coast with summits reaching {{cvt|2600|m}}.<ref>[http://www10.gencat.net/probert/catala/prop_lleure/pdf/pirineusprepirineus.pdf Pirineus-Prepirineus] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723144756/http://www10.gencat.net/probert/catala/prop_lleure/pdf/pirineusprepirineus.pdf |date=23 July 2008 }}</ref> At the eastern end on the southern side lies a distinct area known as the [[Sub-Pyrenees]].<ref>Jordi Sacasas i Lluís, ''Geografia de Catalunya'', Publicacions L'Abadia de Montserrat. {{ISBN|978-84-8415-915-5 }}</ref>

On the French side the slopes of the main range descend abruptly and there are no foothills except in the [[Corbières Massif]] in the northeastern corner of the mountain system.<ref>Christophe Neff : ''Les Corbières maritimes – forment-elles un étage de végétation méditerranéenne thermophile masqué par la pression humaine ?'' In: Eric Fouache (Edit.): ''The Mediterranean World Environment and History. IAG Working Group on Geo-archeology, Symposium Proceedings. Environmental Dynamics and History in Mediterranean Areas, Paris, Université de Paris – Sorbonne 24 – 26 avril 2002''. Paris, 2003, 191 – 202, (Elsevier France, {{ISBN|2-84299-452-3}}).</ref>