How to get to Lake Les Abelletes on the French-Andorran border?
Estany de les Abelletes is a high mountain lake, at an elevation of 2,265m (7,431ft) above sea level, located on the border of France and Andorra.
Where is Estany de les Abelletes?
The lake, also known as Estany de Font Negra, is located on the border between the Encamp parish of Andorra and the Pyrénées-Orientales department, of the Occitania region of France.
Is Estany de les Abelletes worth it?
Lake Les Abelletes is the headwater of the Pas de la Casa River basin, which is a tributary of the Garonne. This river also serves as a natural border that separates Andorran territory from France, meaning it has both a French and an Andorran side.
Lake Les Abelletes is very popular with fishermen, who go there to fish for trout. In the Principality of Andorra, besides the brown trout (Trutta fario) and the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), we can also find brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). In the southern part of the country, some otters (Lutra lutra) have also been observed. Remember the wind from the mountain is quite strong.
How long is the road to Estany de les Abelletes?
The road to the lake is a wide dirt road. It has loose rocks, so a high-clearance vehicle is required. Starting from a parking lot at Port d'Envalira, the road is 1.2 km (0.74 miles) long. It’s closed to private vehicles.
Pic: Federico Gratti