PHYSICAL MAP

Climate:
Oceanic with sub-Mediterranean influences.

Temperatures: Slight oscillations in temperature, with gentle winters and prolonged and hot summers.
* Average annual temperature: 12.3 ºC
* Hottest month: August , 20.3ºC average.
* Coldest month: December, limits between -3ºC and 18ºC
* There are only 5 months a year with averages below 10ºC

Rainfall: A humid climate with no dry season.
* Average annual rainfall: around 1,000 - 1,300 mm
* Months of greatest rainfall: December and January, averages above 1,200 mm
* Average rainfall in the 6 coldest months: between 57.4% and 62.2% of the total. Quite a uniform distribution throughout the year can be observed.
* Evaporation potential: 600 - 700 mm, thereby guaranteeing the supply of water.

General characteristics:
* Moderate temperature variation with gentle winters and hot summers.
* Abundant rainfall, well distributed throughout the year.
* High atmospheric humidity causing frequent banks of mist.
* Strong winds in winter.

Orography
In the Egüés Valley three different orographical areas can be observed.

Pyrenean Valleys:
* Average altitude: 900 m.
* Village settlements: Sagaseta, Elía, Egulbati and Amokain.
Orography typical of the Pyrenees with deep and abrupt gorges running from North to South and arranged in parallel from East to West. The two most important ones are the Egulbati gorge and the Elía gorge. From the end of this last one, you can see the summet of Lacarri, the highest point of the Egüés Valley at 1,046 m.

The Valley:
* Average altitude: 510 m.
* Village settlements: Alzuza, Azpa, Egüés, Elcano, Echalaz, Eransus, Ibiricu and Ustarroz.
It goes from the end of the Pyrenean valleys to the line marked by the Malkaitz hills (711m), Menizorrotz (786m), Tangorri (845m) and Sariandi (800m). It is crossed from East to West by the Urbi River which collects the water running from the Northern ravines. Its scenery, with few slopes, seems more like the extensive plains of Badostain.

Plains of Badostáin and Ardanaz:
* Average altitude: 500m.
* Village settlements: Ardanaz, Badostáin, Gorraiz, Olaz and Sarriguren.
The heights of Badostáin (590m) and the hills of Aldabarren (535 m) mark the division with the neighbouring Valley of Aranguren. Except for a few small undulations, the scenery of this area is predominantly flat. The majority of its fields are dedicated to cereal cultivation.

Flora
There are slight differences between the 3 orographical areas of the valley.

Pyrenean Area: Egulbati is located within this area characterised by the presence of narrow gorges and shady, deep valleys with numerous watercourses. The height of the slopes as well as the humidity of the atmosphere create a gentle climate that is ideal for the proliferation of Beech and Oak trees of the Atlantic type. Small species grow in the shade provided by the beeches, such as ivy, the white hawthorn, and some orchids. Once we come to the open countryside, the beeches give way to shorter species, typical of the undergrowth such as boxwood, gorse and heather whose presence constantly reminds us of the toponymy of the Valley.

However, the action of man has lead to the felling of the primitive beech wood to be gradually replaced by the Scots pine, the Black Pine and the Laricio Pine. Today these species are dominant in the Egulbati area, although there is still a mature oak wood which includes some Ash, Beech and Cherry trees.

The Valley: Its vegetation is characterised only by the presence of trees in the basin of the River Urbi, since the rest of the surface area is dedicated to agriculture. Amongst other trees, there are ashes, black poplars next to the river banks, willows and an occasional alder tree.

The Badostáin plain: Its climate is much more influenced by the hot air currents and by a greater exposure to the sun. Therefore the ground is drier than in the other areas. There is a proliferation of species that are more adapted to the lack of humidity such as the hawthorn, and the gall oak. The woods formed by these species are very leafy and it is difficult to get through them due to the presence of boxwood, sloe berry clumps and blackberry bushes.