Gran Encantat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gran Encantat and Petit Encantat
Highest point
Elevation	2,748 m (9,016 ft)
Listing	List of mountains in Catalonia
Geography
Gran Encantat and Petit Encantat Location in Pyrenees
Location	Catalonia, Spain
Parent range	Pyrenees

Gran Encantat is a famous mountain peak in Catalonia, Spain. It is part of the Pyrenees mountain range. This mountain is the taller of two peaks that make up a special mountain called Els Encantats. The other peak is called Petit Encantat.

Gran Encantat stands at an amazing 2,748 meters (about 9,016 feet) above sea level. Petit Encantat is a bit shorter, at 2,733 meters (about 8,967 feet). That means Gran Encantat is only 12 meters (about 39 feet) taller!

This impressive mountain looks over a beautiful lake called Estany de Sant Maurici. If you look to the east, you can even see Pica d'Estats, which is the tallest mountain in Catalonia. Gran Encantat is a great place for outdoor adventures. Many people enjoy climbing, hiking, and scrambling there in the summer. The mountain is easy to reach, being only about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the small town of Espot. You can walk from Espot along the Riu Escrita river, which flows through a classic Pyrenean valley.

What Does Gran Encantat Look Like?

This mountain has a very unique and jagged shape. It looks like it could have pierced the sky! The two rocky peaks of Els Encantats are separated by a deep gorge. This gorge runs right down the middle of the mountain.

As you go down the mountain, the rugged, rocky landscape changes. It turns into beautiful pine forests. Below the forests, you find the wide, calm waters of the Estany de Sant Maurici reservoir. This huge lake sometimes looks a bright turquoise color in the summer.

How Was Gran Encantat Formed?

The Els Encantats mountains are made of special rocks called metamorphic rocks. These rocks were once sedimentary rocks. Over a very long time, they changed because of high heat and pressure deep inside the Earth.

These transformed rocks created the amazing peaks you see today. They are mostly made of metamorphic limestone. The valley around the mountains, called the Escrita valley, is made of normal granite. But the two peaks themselves are made of folded slate and calcareous rock. Even though this rock isn't super strong, it has formed these spectacular, tall spires.

What Does the Name "Encantat" Mean?

The name "Encantat" means "Enchanted" in English. Like many old mountains, its name comes from an ancient legend. The story says that two hunters went out one Sunday morning. They wanted to be the first to hunt chamois (a type of goat-antelope). But they skipped Sunday mass to do this.

Because they didn't go to mass, they were cursed! The legend says they were turned into stone forever. They became the two tall, vertical peaks of Els Encantats.

Climbing Gran Encantat

People have been climbing Gran Encantat for a long time. The first known climbs of Gran Encantat, using the "normal route," happened in 1901. These climbs are credited to Negrín, Romeo, Salles, and Ciffre. The Petit Encantat was climbed the next year by Astorg, Castagne, and Brulle.

A famous Italian climber named Emilio Comici first climbed the "Central Canal" in 1936. This route is now the usual way to climb in winter.

In Catalonia, many people believe that Mosén Jaime Oliveras was the first to climb Gran Encantat in 1910. He also climbed the Little Encantat by himself in the summer of 1911. He faced many challenges and dangers during his climb. His climb became very famous, maybe because Oliveras was well-known at the time.

Today, many climbers still try to reach the top using the normal routes. The route up Gran Encantat, through the Monestero valley, is the most popular. It is considered "not very difficult," but some parts can be risky. Climbing Petit Encantat usually starts from the gorge. However, climbing the last 100 meters (about 328 feet) is "very difficult." It involves climbing a vertical rock wall that isn't very stable. To get down, climbers use a special technique called "abseiling" with a double rope. They go down the same way they came up.

See also

In Spanish: Los Encantados para niños