Néouvielle National Nature Reserve

Néouvielle National Nature Reserve
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Le Pic de Néouvielle (3 091 m) et le Lac d'Aumar
Location	French Pyrénées, Hautes-Pyrénées department
Nearest city	Saint-Lary-Soulan
Coordinates	42°50′35″N 0°09′35″E / 42.843114°N 0.159695°E / 42.843114; 0.159695Coordinates: 42°50′35″N 0°09′35″E / 42.843114°N 0.159695°E / 42.843114; 0.159695
Area	2,313 ha (5,720 acres)
Established	May 8, 1968 (1968-05-08)
Governing body	Pyrénées National Park
Official Site

Néouvielle National Nature Reserve is a 2,313-hectare (5,720-acre) national nature reserve located in the Néouvielle massif. It ranges from 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) to 3,091 metres (10,141 ft). With a wide array of flora and fauna, it contains about 370 animal species and 570 breeds of algae.

Located in the French Pyrénées (Midi-Pyrénées region, Hautes-Pyrénées department, near Saint-Lary-Soulan and Barèges in the Néouvielle massif), the reserve lies to the east of the Pyrenees National Park. It lies in the municipal territories of Vielle-Aure (enclave), Saint-Lary-Soulan (enclave) and Aragnouet. It is bordered to the west by the Néouvielle massif, to the south by the Cap-de-Long and Orédon lakes, to the east by the lac de l'Oule and to the north by the col de Barèges. It includes the lakes of Aubert and Aumar. The reserve is in the lee of summits ranging from the pic de la Munia to the Arbizon massif and is generally exposed southwards, which induces a hotter and dryer microclimate allowing a life limit extension.

It is mostly made up of rich pine forests and of 70 lakes and laquettes. 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.