Recognition of affected areas by hazardous geological phenomena through toponymy. The Catalan and Andorran High Pyrenees and surroundings areas as a case study

The geomorphological recognition of areas affected by hazardous geological phenomena is not always an easy task, especially when the smoothing of landforms through slope regulation processes blurs the most characteristic features that aid in their identification. Despite this difficulty, the consequences of these phenomena -especially if they are of considerable intensity or recurrent- often remain in the memory of the inhabitants of the affected territory for generations. And sometimes, the memory becomes fossilized through the naming of the place, that is, the toponym. The information provided by these proper names is an additional data point in the development of geological maps, thematic risk studies, and more. In this article, we present examples of series of toponyms related to geological hazards primarily located in a sector of the Catalan and Andorran High Pyrenees. We also explain the methodology, based on comparative physiographic-toponymic analysis, used in the identification and interpretation of those names that are opaque, even in light of linguistic understanding.