Quick Answer: The Geological Map of the Quaternary Period of the Pyrenees is an earth-science wall map of the Pyrenees mountain range that concentrates on the most recent geological period, showing deposits and landforms left by Ice Age glaciers and rivers rather than the older bedrock. It is used for geomorphology and map-reading lessons.
Mapping the Ice Age in a Mountain Range
The Quaternary is the latest period of geological time, covering roughly the last 2.6 million years up to the present, and it is defined by repeated ice ages. A Quaternary geological map of the Pyrenees therefore reads differently from an ordinary geological map. Instead of colouring the ancient rocks that make up the Pyrenees, it shows the loose sediments and landforms laid on top of them: glacial deposits, river gravels, scree and the like.
In the Pyrenees, glaciers repeatedly filled the high valleys during cold stages, carving cirques and U-shaped valleys and leaving moraines where the ice stopped. Meltwater and rivers then spread gravel and sand downstream, building terraces and alluvial fans along the foothills on the French and Spanish sides. A map of this kind is a record of those climate swings, which is why earth-science teachers use it to connect map symbols with landscape history.
The listing does not state the scale, dimensions or legend language. The map appears to be French in origin, so its legend may be in French; confirm these details before ordering if students will read the legend themselves.
Specifications
| Region | Pyrenees mountain range, between France and Spain |
| Period mapped | Quaternary: the most recent geological period, including the ice ages |
| Typical features | Glacial deposits and moraines, river terraces, alluvial fans, scree |
| Use | Geomorphology, glaciation and map-reading lessons |
| Level | Senior secondary geography and university earth science |
| Scale, size and legend language | Confirm at enquiry |
Care & Handling
- Mount the Quaternary map where students can stand close to it; the legend and fine deposit patterns need reading at arm’s length.
- Protect it from direct sunlight, which fades the pale colours that distinguish different deposits.
- Store it flat or loosely rolled; sharp folds crack printed maps along the creases.
Applications
- Teaching glacial landforms from a real mountain range rather than idealised diagrams
- Reading a map legend and relating its symbols to landforms in photographs or in the field
- Discussing Quaternary climate change and how glaciers advanced and retreated
- Comparing a Quaternary map with a bedrock geological map of the same region
Why Choose LabEquip
Geography and earth-science teachers use this map for glaciation units and regional studies. It pairs with the Geological Map of France, which shows the bedrock beneath, and the tectonic plate map of the Alps for comparing two young mountain ranges, all within LabEquip’s Educational Charts range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Quaternary period?
It is the most recent period of the geological time scale, beginning about 2.6 million years ago and continuing today. It is marked by repeated cold glacial stages and warmer interglacials, and it includes the appearance and spread of modern humans.
How is a Quaternary map different from a normal geological map?
A standard geological map colours the bedrock by age and type. A Quaternary map focuses on the young, mostly loose deposits and landforms on top of it, such as moraines, river terraces and scree, which record recent climate and erosion.
What is a moraine?
A moraine is a ridge or spread of unsorted rock debris, from fine clay to large boulders, carried and dumped by a glacier. Terminal moraines mark where a glacier’s front stopped, and lateral moraines form along its sides.
Were the Pyrenees covered by an ice sheet?
No. During the cold stages the Pyrenees held valley glaciers flowing out from the high peaks rather than a single continuous ice sheet. They were smaller than the Alpine glaciers, and today only small glaciers remain on the highest summits.
How do river terraces form?
When a river cuts down into its own earlier floodplain, the old floodplain is left as a flat step above the new valley floor. Repeated cycles of deposition and down-cutting, often linked to glacial and interglacial stages, produce a staircase of terraces.
How can students use the map in a lesson?
Give groups a set of landscape photographs or a field-trip route and ask them to find each landform on the map using the legend. Then have them explain the order of events, glacier advance, retreat and river down-cutting, from what they see.
Last Updated: September 2026
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