Onésime Reclus (1837-1916), french geographer born in Orthez, tell us in his text « Le plus beau royaume du ciel »« (the most beautiful kingdom of heaven) :. « Barely arrived in the « Hautes-Pyrénées » we are confronted to 3000 meters peaks and first of all to the only really dangerous mount : The Balaïtous or Bat Laétouse or Marmuré (3175 or 3146 meters). […] [He] is composed of 144 hectares, all mostly prensent on the French territory. »
He explain the origin of this name : It was named after the torrent with large waterfalls, the milky descent « bat Laetousse ».

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