Néouvielle National Nature Reserve
Néouvielle National Nature Reserve | |
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Pyrénées, Hautes-Pyrénées department | |
Nearest city | Saint-Lary-Soulan |
Coordinates | 42°50′35″N 0°09′35″E / 42.843114°N 0.159695°E |
Area | 2,313 ha (5,720 acres)[1] |
Established | May 8, 1968[1] |
Governing body | Pyrénées National Park |
Official Site |
Néouvielle National Nature Reserve is a 2,313-hectare (5,720-acre)
Geography
Located in the French Pyrénées (
It is mostly made up of rich pine forests and of 70 lakes and laquettes.[3] Still today, sheep and cattle rearing continues to maintain pastures as well as the balance between lawn, heath and pinewood. Hence pastoralism, a multi secular tradition, is a factor of ecological diversity.
Environment
The forests of the Néouvielle massif are arranged in thickets of (mountain pine), the remaining space consists of rhododendrons and lawn. At the heart of the reserve, mountain pine reaches a European record-breaking 2,600 m (8,500 ft) high. The reserve's flora is lush, with 1,250 vascular plants, some of which also reach record-breaking heights, like the foxglove at 1,800 m (5,900 ft). The vegetation hosts a wide array of
There are many water environments, allowing a wide biological diversity with 571 breeds of algae as well as two thirds of French sphagnums. The waters also host the common midwife toad which lives in the reserve up to 2,400 m (7,900 ft).[4]
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Mountain pine in the Néouvielle massif
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Pyrenean desman,Galemys pyrenaicus, endemic to the Pyrenees
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Western capercaillie,Decticus verrucivorus
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Bearded vulture,Gypaetus barbatus
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Marmot,Marmota marmota
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Griffon vulture
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Pyrenean chamois,Rupicapra pyrenaica
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Tetrao urogallus
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Egyptian vulture,Neophron percnopterus
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Sphagnum moss
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Pyrenean brook salamander,Calotriton asper, endemic to the Pyrenees
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Black redstart,Phoenicurus ochruros
References
- ^ a b Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (2003). "Néouvielle (FR3600004)". Inventaire national du Patrimoine naturel. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- ^ Site du World Database on Protected Areas[permanent dead link]. Accessed July 2010.
- ^ Site des réserves naturelles de France. Accessed July 2010.
- ^ Réserve naturelle du Néouvielle Archived 2013-12-31 at the Wayback Machine