the basque country touches cantabria and the burgos province to the west, the bay of biscay to the north, france (nouvelle-aquitaine) and navarre to the east and la rioja (the ebro river) to the south. the territory has three parts, separated by the basque mountains. the main line of mountains makes the watershed between the atlantic and mediterranean basins. the highest place in the mountains is in the aizkorri massif (1551 m). the three areas are: