The Pyrenees mountain range forms the natural boundary between which two European countries?

Introduction / Context:
Mountain ranges often act as natural boundaries between countries and have important effects on climate, defence, and culture. The Pyrenees is one such range in Europe that is frequently mentioned in geography textbooks. This question asks between which two countries the Pyrenees form a natural border. Knowing this helps strengthen your understanding of European physical geography and political boundaries.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The mountain range mentioned is the Pyrenees.
• We need to identify the pair of countries that share this range as a boundary.
• Options are Spain and Portugal, France and Spain, Poland and Russia, and Hungary and Romania.
• We assume standard modern political borders in Europe.

Concept / Approach:
The Pyrenees range stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea in southwestern Europe. It acts as a natural barrier between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of continental Europe. The countries on either side of this range are Spain to the south and France to the north. Portugal does not touch the Pyrenees, and Poland, Russia, Hungary, and Romania are located in different parts of Europe. Therefore, the correct approach is to link the Pyrenees with the France Spain border.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise a map of southwestern Europe and locate the Pyrenees mountain range. Step 2: Recall that the Pyrenees run roughly east west, separating the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe. Step 3: Identify that Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula, while France lies to its north across the mountains. Step 4: Check that Portugal is on the western side of the Iberian Peninsula and does not border the Pyrenees directly. Step 5: Note that Poland, Russia, Hungary, and Romania are in central and eastern Europe, far away from the Pyrenees. Step 6: Conclude that France and Spain are the two countries whose boundary is formed by the Pyrenees.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is simple if you consult a physical map of Europe. The Pyrenees are clearly marked near the border of France and Spain. Political maps also show the border line closely following the crest of the mountain range between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Travel guides to the Pyrenees describe access from both the French side and the Spanish side, further confirming that these two countries share the range as a dividing line. No such connection exists with the other pairs listed in the options.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Spain and Portugal share a land border on the Iberian Peninsula, but their boundary is not formed by the Pyrenees; it lies further west. Poland and Russia share borders in Eastern Europe and around the Kaliningrad region, which are nowhere near the Pyrenees. Hungary and Romania are located in central and Eastern Europe, associated more with the Carpathian Mountains and other ranges, not with the Pyrenees.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes associate Spain with Portugal automatically when they see a question about the Iberian Peninsula, forgetting that the question refers specifically to a mountain boundary. Others may confuse the Pyrenees with the Alps or Carpathians. A clear mental map that separates the Pyrenees (between France and Spain) from the Alps (between France, Italy, Switzerland, and others) and from the Carpathians (central and Eastern Europe) helps avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
The Pyrenees form a natural boundary between France and Spain.