Andorran National Parks

Located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains of Europe, Andorra is a small, landlocked, country bordered by France and Spain. One of the smallest countries in Europe, Andorra is less than 200 square miles in total area, and smaller than the area of New York City.

Andorra la Vella, is the capital of Andorra and a popular European ski resort. Andorra la Vella has no airport or train stations, mainly due to its highly mountainous terrain. It is about a three-hour drive to the nearest airports in Toulouse (Tolosa), Girona, Perpignan and Barcelona. In spite of this, the 10 million tourists who visit Andorra la Vella each year bring in nearly 80 percent of the entire country’s GDP.

Andorra’s economy is primarily driven by its tourism industry and its status as a tax haven. The euro is the de facto currency of the country and Catalan is the official language, with Spanish, Portuguese, and French also commonly spoken in Andorra.

Throughout much of history Andorra has existed without close ties to countries other than Spain, France and Portugal because of its geographical isolation. Andorra became a member of the United Nations in 1993. Interestingly, the people of Andorra have the 3rd highest human life expectancy in the world.

National Parks

Coma Pedrosa Natural Park

Coma Pedrosa Natural Park is located in the western part of the country, entirely in the parish of la Massana, and surrounds the peak of Coma Pedrosa, the highest mountain in Andorra. Coma Pedrosa Natural Park has been established to preserve the biodiversity of the mountain ecosystems. Coma Pedrosa Natural Park is home to 77 percent of the species of Andorran fauna and 48 percent of the flora of the country.

La Vall de Sorteny Natural Park

Valley La Vall de Sorteny Natural Park located in the parish of Ordino is traditionally known for its rich flora. La Vall de Sorteny Nature Park is a botanical paradise with more than 700 species of flora and more than 50 species that are endemic to the Pyrenees. Valley La Vall de Sorteny Natural Park contains many different habitants, including the wildflower meadows, the plains, the forests of mountain pine, the alpine meadows and the marshes with moss hillocks. This national park is home to chamois, roe deer and wild boars.