Costabona, Mountain summit between Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste, France and Setcases, Spain.
Costabona is a mountain summit in the Pyrenees located on the border between France and Spain, reaching approximately 2,465 meters in height. The peak forms a natural divide between two valley systems and sits within a forested landscape.
The name comes from the Latin term 'costa bona' meaning good slope, reflecting its role as grazing land for mountain communities. Both regions surrounding this peak have depended on pastoral activities for centuries as their primary livelihood.
The peak marks a meeting point where hikers from both the French and Spanish sides share their mountain traditions. Local people from the valleys below have long crossed this ridge to connect their communities on either side.
Hikers begin their climb from parking areas near La Preste and follow marked trails through forests and mountain paths toward the summit. The route typically takes between three to four hours depending on pace and weather conditions.
A large scheelite deposit was found on the eastern flank in 1951 for the BRGM; it was then considered the leading tungsten deposit in France and the second in the world. Investment costs and difficult access closed the site in 1957, the buildings were dismantled in 1966, and the galleries were sealed in 1995.
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