Gave d'Ossau

Gave d'Ossau
The Gave d'Ossau near Eaux-Chaudes
Location
Country	France
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Pic du Midi d'Ossau
• elevation	1,008 m (3,307 ft)
Mouth
• location	Gave d'Oloron
• coordinates	43°11′41″N 0°36′28″W / 43.19472°N 0.60778°W / 43.19472; -0.60778
Length	48.5 km (30.1 mi)
Basin features
Progression	Gave d'Oloron→ Gaves réunis→ Adour→ Atlantic Ocean

The Gave d'Ossau (French pronunciation: [ɡav dɔso]) is the torrential river flowing through the Ossau Valley, one of the three main valleys of the High-Béarn (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), in the Southwest of France.

It is formed in Gabas from the confluence of two gaves coming from both sides of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau:

• the Gave de Bious, from the Pic d'Astu (west)
• the Gave du Brousset, from the Anéou Circus (east).

After joining the Gave d'Aspe, in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, it forms the Gave d'Oloron. It is considered the upper course of the Gave d'Oloron by Sandre.^[1]

Throughout its length, the river is paralleled by the D934 road that runs from Pau to Spain, via the Col du Pourtalet.

In Castet, a dam forms the Lac de Castet.

Main tributaries

• (R) Gave de Soussouéou
• (L) Gée from the Coig Arras, in the Gorges du Bitet
• (R) Valentin, from Gourette
  • (R) Cély, from the Col d'Aubisque
• (L) l'Arrioutort, in Laruns
• (R) Canceigt.
• (R) Sourde, in Aste.
• (L) Arriou Mage, in Bielle.
• (R) Lau.

Départements and towns

• Pyrénées-Atlantiques: Gabas, Eaux-Chaudes, Laruns, Béost, Aste-Béon, Gère-Bélesten, Bielle, Castet, Louvie-Juzon, Izeste, Arudy, Oloron-Sainte-Marie.

References

External links

• Ossau.net web site