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North Catalonian geography appears unique in the eyes of northern
visitors. In reality it defines itself through a comfortable
rapport with South Catalonia, with which it shares the same
climate, vegetation, landscape and diversity – symbolized by
the duo of the sea and the mountains. But when compared to the
Languedoc region the physical characteristics of North Catalonia
are revealed. The Costa Vermella in the north and the famous
Costa Brava in the south share the same schist soils, the same
vegetation and the same temperate climate. The Conflent and
the Ripollès, as well as the Vallespir and the Garrotxa
– which are the adjoining regions of North and South Catalonia
– present the same slight Euro-Siberian and Atlantic influence.
The major contrasts are more apparent between east and west.
The Rosselló plain benefits from the Mediterranean influence,
which is absent in the higher regions of the Cerdanya and the
Capcir. The areas in the middle have all the aspects of both
sea and the mountains – and all shelter a wide variety of rocks;
limestone, granite and schist.
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Among
the climatic elements, the regions’ range of winds is part of
its character. On the Rosselló plain the wind is present
300 days a year and is primarily the strong and dry Tramuntana
( 41% of all winds – a minimum speed of 54km/h) followed by
the Marinada, the Migjorn and the Canigonenc. North Catalonia
is also swept by a multitude of other winds, such as the Llebeig,
the Xaloc, the Gregal, the Vent d’Espanya, the Vent de Mar,
the Narbonès, the Ponent, the Vent de Dalt and the Carcanet.
The
extreme geographic diversity of North Catalonia (which allows
sun tanning on the sand and skiing 80km away) provides an argument
for tourism and nourishes the pride of the regions residents,
who are conscious of living in a region that is small but full.
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