88) Les Néous

The Les Néous glacier is the only active glacier in the Balaitous Massif and the westernmost in the Pyrenees and Occitania. During the Little Ice Age, the 55 hectares of this glacier represented 57% of the ice in the massif, making it the 11th largest in the Pyrenees.
Its 1,810-metre-long ice tongue was the third longest in the mountain range, surpassed only by the glaciers of Ossoue and Aneto. At its lower limit, morainic remains indicate that it took on a double-lobed morphology.
In 1985, the main and easternmost lobe still exceeded 900 m under the protection of the Arista de Castérillou. In 2012, its length was estimated at 300 m. At its former lower limit, extensive fragments in the form of a helleura were preserved, heavily covered with erosion material, which are now considered residual remains.
Despite its marked deterioration, reflected in its obvious loss of thickness and extent, it still shows signs of activity, which is why it retains its classification as a glacier, although with a clear tendency to become a helero. It currently covers an area of 1.5 ha, making it one of the smallest active glaciers in the Pyrenees.

Este aparato glaciar pertenece al siguiente macizo:

L) Balaitous Massif

Aragón
6 glaciers

88) Les Néous

Comparativa de imágenes

1959

2022

Comparison of six decades, 1959 to 2022.

The Les Néous Glacier in 1959, with the terminal moraine (eastern) of the Pequeña Edad de Hielo at the bottom left. On the right is the Helero de Pabat. (National Geographic Institute of France. Pyrénées – Lourdes magazine. Partial detail of photograph).

The Les Néous Glacier in 2022, still showing weak activity and a very reduced extent. (Xabier Dec).

1923

2019

Comparison over 96 years, from 1923 to 2019.

In 1923, the Néous glacier from the summit of Balaitous (Santiago Díaz Calleja – AFCEC).

In 2019, barely visible from the summit, retreating under the protection of the walls. (Pep León).

Galería de imágenes

View of the Les Néous Glacier (88) in 2017, below the summit of Balaitous (1) and sheltered by the Cresta de Castérillou (7). On the right, also on the Occitan slope, is the Helero de Pabat (89). On the left, the Latour Gap (2) and the location of the extinct AG of the same name (90), with its frontal moraine (8). (Jordi Camins).

In 1979, on the right is the Néous glacier, in the centre is the Brèche Latour glacier, and on the left is the South-East Balaitous snowfield, all in good condition during the so-called stabilisation period. (Bernard Clos – V.V.A.A. Parques Nacionales de los Pirineos – Publi-Action).

The Les Néous Glacier in 1985, when its eastern lobe was still nearly 900 m long. In the lower centre is the moraine from the Little Ice Age. (Jaques Jofre - Pyrénées 3000. Bordeaux).

The Les Néous Glacier in 2017, preserving ancient snow in its upper section. To its left is the location of the extinct Brecha Latour and Sureste Balaitous glaciers. (Jordi Camins).