Alt Pirineu (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈaɫ pi.ɾiˈnɛw]; English: Upper Pyrenees) is one of the nine regions (vegueries) of Catalonia.
Alt Pirineu | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Sovereign state |  Spain |
| Community |  Catalonia |
| Capital | La Seu d'Urgell (de facto) |
| Counties | |
| Government | |
| • Type | Vegueria Council (TBD) |
| • President | N/A (since 2010) |
| • Delegate of the Catalan Government | Sílvia Romero Galera (2024–) |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,199.42 km2 (2,007.51 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 63,892 |
| • Density | 12/km2 (32/sq mi) |
| Statistics from IDESCAT | |
Located in the north-west of Catalonia, specifically by the Pyrenees, it covers the higher mountain regions from the Aragon border to the Cerdanya. It is the second least populated region, with 63,892 inhabitants as of 2022.[1]
It consists of the counties of Alta Ribagorça, Alt Urgell, Cerdanya, Pallars Jussà and Pallars Sobirà. Although the Aran Valley is officially not part of the region,[2] as it has its own autonomous governing body, it is sometimes included under the name of Alt Pirineu i Aran (English: Upper Pyrenees and Aran; Aranese: Naut Pirenèu e Aran) for statistical purposes.[3] Within Catalonia, it borders to the south with Ponent and Central Catalonia, and to the east with the Girona region.
Its de facto capital is La Seu d'Urgell, the most populous settlement, as a law has not set one yet.[4]
Demography
edit| Counties | Population
(2022)[1] |
Area
(km2) |
|---|---|---|
| Alta Ribagorça | 3,993 | 426.68 |
| Alt Urgell | 20,237 | 1,446.53 |
| Cerdanya | 19,335 | 547.00 |
| Pallars Jussà | 13,137 | 1,339.07 |
| Pallars Sobirà | 7,190 | 1,440.14 |
Geography
edit
- Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici
- Alt Pirineu (to the north)
- Cadí-Moixeró (to the east)
Location
editThe location of the Upper Pyrenees is essentially strategic. It is bordered to the west by Aragon and to the north by Andorra and France's Occitania. Andorra has a significant importance in the region as, with a surface area of 8% compared to that of the region, Andorra has a population similar to the whole region. Besides, the small country has twice as many work places as the whole region, and its economy is closely tied to Andorra's. Taking advantage of this situation, the Catalan government aims to create joint Pyrenean strategies, particularly in terms of infrastructure and facilities, so that they are more favourable and can achieve sufficient critical mass to make them possible and viable.[5] Besides, the biggest city, La Seu d'Urgell, is the seat of the Bishop of Urgell, one of the co-princes of Andorra, and the region holds the Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport.
Climate
editThe climate is predominantly mountainous. Four zones can be distinguished: one with an alpine and subalpine climate, another with an Atlantic climate (mainly the Aran Valley), and two other ones with high-mountain and medium/low-mountain Mediterranean climates.[5]
Protected natural spaces
editThe Upper Pyrenees holds a third of the protected natural areas of Catalonia. It includes a national park and two natural parks.
Local media
edit
Television
editIn addition to channels broadcasting for the whole of Catalonia, such as those of Televisió de Catalunya or the regional broadcasts of RTVE Catalunya, as well as channels broadcasting for all of Spain, the Alt Pirineu region has its own multiplex (TL03L), holding two local commercial channels: Pirineus TV (also watchable in Andorra) and Lleida Televisió (also watchable in Ponent).[6][7]
In addition, TV3's Telenotícies comarques programme used to offer a brief regional news segment via disconnections from the main feed for the regions of Alt Pirineu and Ponent until its discontinuation in June 2017.[8]
News
editSome local news outlets in Alt Pirineu are Viure als Pirineus, RàdioSeu and Pallars Digital (the latter two aimed at Alt Urgell or Pallars Jussà and Pallars Sobirà, respectively, but servicing the whole region).[9] 3/24, Ara, Nació, Diari Segre and Les Vegueries also include regional news sections for Alt Pirineu.
References
edit- ^ a b "Idescat. Anuari estadístic de Catalunya. Població a 1 de gener. Comarques i Aran, àmbits i províncies". www.idescat.cat. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ 324cat (26 May 2010). "La Vall d'Aran quedarà fora de la vegueria de l'Alt Pirineu". CCMA (in Catalan). Retrieved 2 July 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "La vegueria de l'Alt Pirineu i Aran rebrà una inversió de 42,3 MEUR en els pressupostos pel 2023". Govern.cat. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ "Document". Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya (in Catalan). Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ a b "3. L'ÀMBIT DEL PLA: DIAGNOSI I OBJECTIUS" (PDF). territori.gencat.cat. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Els Pirineus estrenen canal de televisió". RacoCatalà (in Catalan). 12 February 2003. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Televisions – Cadena Pirenaica" (in Catalan). Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ 324cat (2 June 2017). "Emotiu adeu als desconnectats del "Telenotícies comarques"". 3Cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 17 April 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Digital, Pallars. "Notícies de Alt Pirineu i Aran". www.pallarsdigital.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 17 April 2024.