Pyrenees Guide

The Cadi-Moixero Natural Park was set up by the Generalitat de Catalunya (the Catalan government) in a decree issued on 15 July 1983 in response to a request from the Catalan Parliament. It comprises a group of pre-Pyrenean mountains: the ranges of Cadi and Moixero, the mount of Pedraforca and much of the Tosa d'Alp and Puigllançada mountains. It covers an area of 41,342 hectares (150.6 sq. miles) and straddles the borders of three comarques: Berguedà, Alt Urgell and Cerdanya.

The aim of the decree was to ensure the protection of this area of high mountain peaks, which is of the utmost interest on account of its geological features and its plant and animal life. The natural park formula was chosen because it is possible thereby to plan and provide for all the relevant factors - such as conservation of the environment and promotion of natural resources - so as to render fulfilment of the ecological objectives compatible with the social and economic well-being of the local population.

The protection of the Cadi mountains and the surrounding area was one of the regional planning measures drawn up by the Generalitat de Catalunya as early as 1932. The question was raised again many years later when the possibility of establishing a number of protected zones in the area was considered in the 1963 Plan for the Province of Barcelona.

In 1966 a decree was published establishing the Cadi National Game Reserve which includes the ranges of El Verd and Port del Comte in addition to the area of the present-day natural park. This law, which is still in force, manages wild life resources in such a way as to make hunting a source of revenue for the local residents.

Finally a law passed by the Catalan Generalitat on 6 May 1982 declared the Pedraforca mountains, including the mount of Pedraforca and the Gresolet valley which separates the Pedraforca range from Cadi, to be a Natural Park. This law was an emergency step designed to regulate the open-cast lignite mining that was taking place in the southern part of the range.

Description of the Natural Park
The Cadi-Moixero Natural Park is classified as a mountain park because the altitude ranges from 900 m (3,000 ft.) at the bottom of the valleys which form the southern boundary to 2.648 m (8,684 ft.) at the summit of the highest peak, the Puig de la Canal Baridana. Hence the scenery and ecosystems are Alpine in character: thick woods and meadow s contrast with the highly distinctive rugged outline of the great limestone rocks.

The two largest chains, Cadi and Moixero, are linked by the Tancalaporta pass, and form an impressive barrier of pre-Pyrenean mountains running from west to east over a distance of some 30 km (20 miles). They constitute the watershed dividing the river Segre, which flows through Cerdanya and Alt Urgell, from the Llobregat, which runs through Berguedà.
The mountain sides are very sheer, particularly on the northern face, with almost vertical drops of as much as 500 m or more to deep gorges known as canals: Pedraforca, Tosa d'Alp and Puigllancada peaks stand out clearly from the rest.

The chief beauty spots in the Cadi mountains include: the Roca de l'Ordiguer, on the northern slope overlooking the vast Prat del Cadi, and the Puig de la Canal Baridana, mentioned above (also called Puig Vulturo) which at 2.648 m (8,684 ft.) is the highest summit in the Cadi mountains and in the park. The whole southern side of the chain is also a majestic sight, especially above the village of Josa de Cadi which is flanked by the main range to the north and by the secondary, southwesterly ridge of Cadinell to the west. At the eastern end of this side of the chain are the very attractive Bastareny source, a tributary of the Llobregat. Among the most attractive features of the Moixero mountains- are the ridges along the southern side of the Penyes Altes de Moixero (2,260 m/7,476 ft), the highest peak in the range, and the large expanses of forest on the northern side, where fertile valleys such as that of L'Ingla, or the Canals gorges, are also located.

La Tosa d'Alp rises to an altitude of 2,531 m. (8,304 ft.) in the eastern part of the park. Also known as Pedro dels Quatre Batlles (the "pillar of the four mayors") because the boundaries of the four boroughs of Baga, Alp, Das and Urús meet there, it offers several particularly picturesque spots such as La Pleta del Llamp, lying below the rock of the same name, which dominates the Greixer valley. Further southeast, on the other side of the Pal pass, is Puigllancada (2,406 m) with its vast expanses of pastureland, especially on the southern slopes. Further on still, beyond the Tossal de Rus, lies the town of Castellar de N'Hug located close to the source of the Llobregat which attracts large numbers of visitors. Pedraforca has always been one of the favourite mountains for Catalan climbers. Its unmistakable rugged "fork", or Enforcadura, has two "prongs": the higher peak is the Pollego Superior (2,497 m/8,192 ft.) and the lower, more southerly one the Pollego Inferior (2,400 m/7,874 ft.).

The north face of the mountain presents a sheer vertical drop of 600-800 m (1,900-2,600 ft.) above the Gresolet valley, which is a dangerous but attractive place for rock climbers. The Gresolet valley is one of the most interesting wooded areas in the Park. On account of its particularly damp microclimate, it is mainly covered with well-preserved silver fir and beech woods which are unique in the park. An asphalted road from Saldes leads to the Mirador del Gresolet from whence an excellent panorama over the valley and much of the southern side of Cadi may be had.

With regard to the climate, annual rainfall in the park varies from 1,500 mm (59") in the mountains on the eastern side to 700 mm. (27 1/2 ") in the low-lying valleys of the Segre and Lavansa to the west, which are sheltered from the sea winds. The mountain tops are snow-covered for approximately six months a year (from November to May).

The average temperature fluctuates between 11º C in the lower part of Alt Urgell to 0º C on the highest peaks. The winters are very cold, with temperatures as low as -20º C, and the summers are cool. The main natural resources, cattle and forests, provide the chief livelihood of the inhabitants of the villages which form part of the natural park. The main crop is cattle fodder. Two-thirds of the forests in the park-are under public ownership. They belong mostly to the local councils and timber plays a decisive part in the local economy. Practically all the woods have been declared of public interest and are under the control of the Catalan Generalitat, a fact that has facilitated the establishment and management of the natural park.