Lannemezan (; Gascon Occitan Lanamesa, "heath of the middle") is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department and the Occitanie region in south-western France.INSEE commune file The inhabitants are called Lannemezanais.
Lannemezan is the largest city in the .
Geography The Petite Baïse has its source in the commune.
Lannemezan is around east of Tarbes, and around 100 km south-west of Toulouse.
Geology and relief Over 50 million years, driven by movements of compression, low relief which constitutes the Pre-Pyrenees has risen. Glaciers and streams that cascade down its slopes subject to mountain erosion which flows off from the foot of it. While continuing to rise, the mountain has erected the cluster of its deposits and thus forms the Plateau de Lannemezan, head of a gigantic which puts its mark upon much of the southwest, up the Garonne at more than to the north. High up and submitted to the four winds, the site already assigns itself an identity that would assist in its history and reputation.
The soil is composed of uncultivated and barren land, dotted with woodlands, coppicing, cut of marshes and heath. The terrain is of limestone origin with a topsoil up to deep. Peat moor is exploited near La Barthe-de-Neste.Information extracted from the article :fr:Plateau de Lannemezan Analysis of the soil in the commune of Lannemezan shows the results presented in the following table.
Depth (cm) % Clays % Silts% Sands % of organic material in the layer Totals(<2 μm) Fines(2 to 20 μm) Coarse(20 to 50 μm) Fines(50 to 200 μm) Coarse(200 to 2,000 μm) 25% 22% 10% 21% 19% 7.7% 26% 20% 11% 22% 20% 3.7% 17% 18% 8% 25% 32% – 26% 17% 8% 21% 30% –
The plateau rises to over above sea level in the vicinity of Lannemezan. The top of the foothills face the Pyrenean part of the Neste Valley, the river which then turns east at the foot of the plateau. Other rivers (Gers, Baïse, etc.), flow radially from this point to the northwest, north and northeast, and the altitude of the plateau decreases gradually. On the south side, this plateau is still connected to the Pyrenean massif by a narrow tongue of land between Izaux and Avezac. Otherwise, it ends to the southwest and the southeast by a steep overhang and residual hills (Capvern, Mauvezin, etc.) facing the Pyrenees.
Natural vegetation
The natural vegetation of Lannemezan and its small region is characterised by a heathland landscape, although moisture of soils is highly variable depending on their location (particularly in relation to their proximity to water courses).
Thus, in wet areas near the rivers extend many bogs characterised by dwarf gorse (Ulex minor), St. John's wort (Hypericum elodes L.) marshes or wet meadows which extend Medusa's trumpets (Narcissus bulbocodium L.), of oatgrass (Arrhenatherum longifolium) or alder (Alnus).
In drier areas grow more woody species such as Pyrenean oak, also known under the name of tauzin oak (Quercus pyrenaica), as well as pedunculated oak (Quercus robur) or chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill).
In all cases, the soils are rather acidic type with adjustable humidity, which imposes certain constraints for the development of plant species. These development constraints are represented on the adjoining humidity/acidity chart.
Hydrography Eighteen rivers have their sources on the Plateau de Lannemezan or pass through the territory of the commune. The main are listed in the following table.
Rivier Length Location of the source Confluence Location of the confluenceThe Baïse Capvern (Hautes-Pyrénées) Garonne (left bank) Penne-d'Agenais (Lot-et-Garonne)The Petite Baïse (ou Baïse devant) Lannemezan (Hautes-Pyrénées) Baïse (right bank) L'Isle-de-Noé (Gers)The Avezac-Prat-Lahitte (Hautes-Pyrénées) Petite Baïse (left bank) Clarens (Hautes-Pyrénées)The Sole Tajan (Hautes-Pyrénées) Petite Baïse (right bank) Guizerix (Hautes-Pyrénées)The Lannemezan (Hautes-Pyrénées) Petite Baïse (right bank) Galez (Hautes-Pyrénées)The Lagrange (Hautes-Pyrénées) Baïse (right bank) L'Isle-de-Noé (Gers)The Gers Lannemezan (Hautes-Pyrénées) Garonne (left bank) Agen (Lot-et-Garonne)The Neste Arreau (Hautes-Pyrénées)Réunion des Neste d'Aure and Garonne (left bank) Montréjeau (Haute-Garonne)The Save La Barthe-de-Neste (Hautes-Pyrénées) Garonne (left bank) Grenade (Haute-Garonne)The Arrats Plateau de Lannemezan (Hautes-Pyrénées) Garonne (left bank) Valence-d'Agen (Tarn-et-Garonne)The Bouès Capvern (Hautes-Pyrénées) Arros (right bank) Beaumarchés (Gers)The Gimone Plateau de Lannemezan (Hautes-Pyrénées) Garonne (left bank) Castelferrus (Tarn-et-Garonne)The Gesse Plateau de Lannemezan (Hautes-Pyrénées) Save (left bank) Espaon (Gers)The Louge Plateau de Lannemezan (Hautes-Pyrénées) Garonne (left bank) Muret (Haute-Garonne)
Natural risks and disasters The commune is placed under supervision in relation to some possible natural and technological hazards:
Flood Industrial risk Earthquake: Zone of seismicity 1B Transport of dangerous goods
Recent natural disasters on the commune are as follows, since 1980 (from most recent to oldest):
Date Natural disaster observed in Lannemezan 24 May 2007 Floods and mudslides 27 July 2006 Floods and mudslides 1 July 2003 to 30 September 2003 Consecutive differential landslides due to drought and soil rehydration 25 December 1999 to 29 December 1999 Floods, mudslides and landslides 6 November 1982 to 10 November 1982 Storm
Location
General location:
Lannemezan is a bastide situated in the centre of the Plateau de Lannemezan between Tarbes and Toulouse on the Petite Baïse. Between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, at the outlet of the valleys of the Pyrenees, Lannemezan imposes itself as a privileged strategic its geographical position city.
Lannemezan is located at the east of the department of the Hautes-Pyrénées, from the border with Haute-Garonne to the east, from the border with Gers in the north and from the border with Spain to the south ().
Bordering communes
Spatially, Lannemezan is wedged between the following nine communes: Campistrous to the northwest, Clarens in the northeast, Capvern to the west, Uglas and Pinas to the east, Avezac-Prat-Lahitte in the southwest, La Barthe-de-Neste and Escala to the south, and Cantaous to the southeast.Carte géographique des alentours de Lannemezan, sur le site de
Distance to some large French cities The orientation and location of Lannemezan, compared to some large French cities, is given in the following tableSite of Viamichelin (distances are given as the fastest route by road):
City Tarbes Toulouse Bayonne Bordeaux Montpellier Marseille Nantes Lyon Nice Paris Brest Lille Strasbourg Distance Direction (W) (NE) (W) (NW) (E-NE) (E-NE) (N-NW) (NE) (E) (N-NE) (N-NW) (N) (NE)
Area The city of Lannemezan has an area of , which is ranked:
Territory Ranking of Lannemezan by areaFrance 8,732nd / 36,683Midi-Pyrénées 687th / 3,021Hautes-Pyrénées 41st / 474Arrondissement of Bagnères-de-Bigorre 20th / 160 2nd / 26
Altitude
Changes in altitude are important on the territory of the commune. The minimum altitude is , the maximum altitude is . The average elevation is , and the Town Hall lies Meanwhile, .
Climate
Tarbes-Ossun weather station 'normals' reveal a rather cool climate, rainy in winter and hot and stormy in summer. The average annual temperature is relatively low for such latitude, with a fairly low seasonal amplitude, on average during the winter and during the summer. However, the winter temperature has reached a record low of in January 1985 and has also exceeded in midsummer. These high temperatures are typical of the foehn wind, due to the relief of the Pyrenees.
In Tarbes, fog and strong winds are rare. These climate characteristics of Tarbes are found in the north of the department, but with more fog in winter, and warmer daytime temperatures and lower precipitation in the summer. Conversely on the closer terrain the average quantities of precipitation increase. This varies greatly depending on exposure and slopes, but become abundant near the border ridges. The area between plain and mountain has a more humid climate and less sunny than the rest of the department. In the mountains the sun shines frequently above a sea of clouds and the wind blows stronger and more often than on the plain (breezes and sometimes very strong winds from the south).
The is characterised by a rainy and cool springtime, especially snowy at altitude; weather from the northwest is blocked by the relief and a phenomenon of precipitation at altitude has the consequence of strong accumulations of snow at altitude until mid-May. Summer is mild but stormy, autumn is generally sunny and pleasant, usually followed by a relatively mild winter on the plains and cold above .
Records of temperatures and precipitation are collected in the following table:
Sunshine and rainfall (since 1999)
Sunshine and precipitation values are visible in the following table:
Criteria 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Average (1999–2011) Minimum(year) Maximum(year) Sunshine (hours) Total 1,795 2,018 1,977 1,768 2,006 1,876 2,221 2,119 1,959 1,835 2,013 1,945 2,087 1,9691,768(2002) 2,221(2005) Winter 349 471 350 449 413 369 465 375 346 412 467 326 409 395326(2010) 471(2000) Spring 509 563 582 495 588 579 698 616 524 500 560 605 630 575495(2002) 698(2005) Summer 555 658 607 495 681 558 653 665 614 601 608 626 596 610495(2002) 681(2003) Autumn 382 326 438 329 324 370 405 463 475 322 378 388 452 389322(2008) 475(2007) Precipitation(mm) Total 1,172 1,129 874 1,198 885 992 891 826 1,029 1,192 1,125 944 979 1,013826(2006) 1,198(2002) Winter 283 189324221229288132261266342281214205246132(2005) 342(2008) Spring 331 412 281 349 207 204 258 199 390 383 308 260 234 291199(2006) 412(2000) Summer 283 205 150 231 178 238 246 189 162 146 139 157 292 198139(2009) 292(2011) Autumn 275 324 119 398 270 263 255 176 211 322 397 312 248 277119(2001) 398(2002)
Extreme temperatures and precipitation records (since 1999)
Records of temperatures and precipitation amounts, between 1999 and 2011, are listed in the following table:
Records 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Record (Year) Temperature(°C) High (°C) 35 34 35 35 39 37 34 35 37 34 36 39 3739 (2003 & 2010) Low (°C) −7 −8 −11 −5 −8 −5 −11 −7 −10 −6 −7 −10 −6 -11 (2005) Monthly precipitation(mm/month)Max. 155 165 176 181 136 176 139 151 171 218 233 184 127 233 (2009) Min. 27 5 18 21 12 6 0 18 28 13 29 28 26 0 (2005)
Lannemezan climate according to the Köppen classification
According to the Köppen classification, the town of Lannemezan is located in the "Cfb" category:
The C (1st letter) expresses the climate: A temperate climate:
The three coldest months average temperatures between and ( in Lannemezan) Average temperature of the hottest month above ( in Lannemezan) The seasons of summer and winter are well defined
The f (2nd letter) expresses the rainfall:
Humid climate Precipitation every month of the year No dry season
The b (3rd letter) expresses the temperature variations: been temperate:
Average temperature of the warmest month of less than or equal to ( in Lannemezan) Average temperatures of the four hottest months above ( in Lannemezan)
Channels of communication
Road Network
Lannemezan is a town in transition, served by many roads. The majority of these are in the north/south and east/west directions. Here are the details:
Orientation of axis Route Axis Previous commune Following communeEast/West(Toulouse to Bayonne) A64 E80 : Autoroute La Pyrénéenne Capvern (west) Lannemezan (south) Toulouse / Bayonne Montréjeau TournayD817 (ex N117) Toulouse / Bayonne Pinas CapvernNorth/South(Gers to Spain) D929 Auch / Arreau Uglas La Barthe-de-Neste D939 Galan / Lannemezan Galez – D24 Boulogne-sur-Gesse / Lannemezan Villeneuve-Lécussan – D17 Trie-sur-Baïse / Lannemezan Campistrous –
Rail network