Gorges de Kakouetta, Canyon system in Sainte-Engrâce, France.
Gorges de Kakouetta is a canyon system in the Pyrenees that winds through limestone formations with walls reaching about 350 meters high. A river flows along the floor and creates a natural corridor accompanied by wooden pathways that guide visitors through the system.
Explorer Edouard-Alfred Martel conducted the first documented exploration in 1906 and mapped passages previously known only to local farmers. Later, the gorges served as escape routes during World War II for people seeking to cross the border into Spain.
Local shepherds and farmers once used these passages to move livestock through the narrow corridors. Today, visitors walk the same routes and experience how people have long coexisted with this dramatic landscape.
Visitors should bring sturdy footwear for the hike, as the route through the system takes about two to three hours and has varying difficulty levels. The site typically operates from March to November, so season is an important factor to consider when planning a visit.
At the trail's end stands a waterfall about 20 meters high, behind which visitors can walk on specially built platforms. This spot is often the highlight of exploration and offers the rare sensation of standing directly under flowing water.
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