I.

Introduction

Pyrenees (French, Pyrénées; Spanish, Pirineos), mountain range, south-western Europe, extending from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea and separating the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe. Except in a few places, such as the area occupied by the tiny principality of Andorra, the boundary between France and Spain runs along the crest of the chain; approximately two-thirds of the mountains lie in Spain. The Pyrenees extend for about 435 km (270 mi) and cover some 55,374 sq km (21,380 sq mi); the maximum breadth of the system is about 129 km (80 mi).