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; -0.60778Coordinates: 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 and the Gave d'Aspe meet to form the Gave d'Oloron.

The Gave d'Ossau 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 , from the (west)
• the , from the (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)
• (L) from the , in the
• (R) , from Gourette
  • (R) , from the Col d'Aubisque
• (L) , in Laruns
• (R) .
• (R) , in Aste.
• (L) , in Bielle.
• (R) .

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