The climate
Here is an overview of the climate in the department. It can go from one extreme to the other within a few kilometers. It can be sunny in Mirepoix, a few drops in Pamiers, a few flakes in Foix... and you'll put the chains on in Lavelanet.
Average temperatures: It is a paradox but nevertheless, the mildness is in the north. From the Ariège plain in the north, to the snows of Spain and Andorra in the south, we go from mild winters and hot, dry summers to a harsh, cold climate with abundant precipitation, covering a wide range depending on altitude and exposure. The average temperatures are as follows: annual average of 14 °C to 3 °C, annual average of minima of 8 °C to -1 °C, annual average of maxima of 19 °C to 7 °C, from the lower Ariège to the highest peaks
Sunshine: The Ariège is at the crossroads of two climatic influences, oceanic and Mediterranean. The Pyrenees are a southern mountain where the harsh and snowy winter is sunny. The northern part of the department, which enjoys 1,200 hours of sunshine per year, benefits from its Mediterranean neighborhood and the influence of the Aude
Precipitation: In terms of precipitation, we can give some figures: from 750 mm/year in the northeast (the least watered sector) to 1,800 mm/year in the Aulus mountains (the most watered sector); the wettest months are April, May, October and the driest are July, September. Snow is present for about 10 days in the plain, 30 days at 800 m and 60 days at 1500 m. There are 20 to 25 days of thunderstorms
Wind: As for the dominant winds, they are from the northwest and southeast (the famous Autan wind) although the Ariège is a relatively windless department. For some years now, we have noticed an increase in wind, certainly linked to the change in climatic conditions that our planet is unfortunately undergoing.
The Ariège is under a double influence: to the west, the landscapes of the Couserans and the Volvestre are under a dominant oceanic influence, while to the east, the vegetation and the climate are of the Mediterranean type, and therefore drier. All the rivers of the department, except those of the canton of Quérigut, flow into the Garonne, the river of the ocean side, via the Ariège, the Salat, the Volp and the Arize.
The relief
This department of about 5,000 km2 takes its name from the main river that divides its territory in a north-south direction. It offers a very varied landscape of valleys, caves, lakes, torrents, plains, mountains and forests.
The Ariège is characterized by three large areas
The plain of Ariège
This large fertile plain of the lower Ariège with the Lauragais to the north-east, the Ariège valley from Foix to Toulouse and the Lèze valley is very agricultural land with some vineyards. The calm landscapes contrast with the superb massive and chaotic mountain range that can be seen from the road or the highway.
The Pyrenean piedmont and the piedmont of Couseranne
The limestone ranges of the Plantaurel from east to west are a kind of step towards the high mountain going from more or less gentle hills to real cliffs. Lavelanet, Foix, the Arize basin and Saint-Girons are truly at the foot of the Pyrenees
The high country of Ariège
This high country can itself be divided into 4 large countries. The Castillonais and the Haut Sarlat in the south-west, the Haute Ariège in the south, towards Tarascon-sur-Ariège and Ax-les-Thermes, the Pays d'Olmes in the south-east towards Lavelane and the Donezan at the border of the Aude which we share with it.
The middle mountains are located between 1,700 and 2,300 m, with the massifs of Saint-Barthélemy, Arget-Arize and Trois Seigneurs, quickly dominated by the high Pyrenean chain, towards the Spanish border, with some peaks approaching or exceeding 3,000 m, such as Montcalm (3,080 m), Pique d'Estats (3,140 m), Maubermé (2,880 m) and Mont Valier (2,839 m). There is a difference in landscape between the Couserans and the Haute Ariège. The latter is more enclosed, the summits being hardly visible from the valleys. It is necessary to go up in altitude to enjoy an amazing panorama. On the other hand, on the side of Saint-Girons, the big summits are opened on vast and broad valleys or cirques leaving an impression of grandiose majesty all around the visitor.
All the glaciers during thousands of years have worked a lot in the mountain and have dug superb lakes. In the Querigut, at the foot of the White Rock, the splendid lake of Laurenti; up there, at the foot of Soularac, the impressive pond of the Devil. Dotting the Ariège Pyrenees, you will find a multitude of lakes, more than 200 to approach and admire
Regional Natural Park of the Ariège Pyrenees
The perimeter of the Regional Natural Park of the Ariège Pyrenees occupies about 40% of the area of the Ariège department. With approximately 2,468 km2, it encompasses 142 municipalities and 43,000 inhabitants. The perimeter of the NRP includes in the north, the Ariège part of the small Pyrenees (Volvestre) and the western half of the Plantaurel chain, limited by the Ariège river, in the northern 2/3, in the area of the foothills: the Séronais, the Saint-Gironnais and the Bas-Salat, in the south and in the center, areas with a strong mountain character, structured in valleys such as the valley of the Vicdessos and its tributary, the Siguer, the valleys of Saurat and the Courbière, the col de Port and the massif des Trois-Seigneurs in Tarascon-sur-Ariège and the Barguillère valley, the col des Marrous and the col del Bouich in Foix, the Arac valley, the Haut-Salat, the Castillonnais (Bellongue and Lez valleys...). You will discover a range of products or service providers stamped "Marque Parc" who respect a specific specification based on three fundamental values: the link to the territory, the human dimension and the respect of the environment.
