'Andorra' (
Catalan: ''Andorra''), officially The 'Principality of Andorra' (
Catalan: ''Principat d'Andorra'') is a small
landlocked country in western
Europe, located in the eastern
Pyrenees mountains and bordered by
Spain and
France. Once isolated, it is currently a prosperous country mainly because of
tourism and its status as a
tax haven. The people of Andorra are currently listed as having the
highest human life expectancies on Earth, at 83.52 years (2007 est).
[1]
Origin and history of the name
The name "Andorra" is of unknown origin but (according to
Joan Coromines) clearly preRoman. Many of the local
toponyms are of
Iberian-
Basque origin.
History
Main articles: History of Andorra
Tradition holds that Charles the Great (
Charlemagne) granted a
charter to Andorran people in return for their fighting the
Moors.
Overlordship of the territory passed to the local
count of Urgell and eventually to the
bishop of the
diocese of
Urgell. In the eleventh century a dispute arose between the bishop and his northern neighbour over Andorra.
The conflict was resolved in 1278 by the signing of a
paréage, which provided that Andorra's sovereignty be shared between the
count of Foix (whose title would ultimately transfer to the French head of state) and the bishop of
La Seu d'Urgell, in
Catalonia,
Spain. This gave the small
principality its territory and political form.
Andorra was briefly annexed to
Aragon twice, in 1396 and 1512.
Over the years the title passed to the kings of
Navarre. After Henry of Navarre became King
Henry IV of France, he issued an edict (1607) that established the head of the French state and the Bishop of Urgell as co-princes of Andorra.
In the period 1812–13, the
First French Empire annexed
Catalonia and divided it in four
départements. Andorra was also annexed and made part of the district of
Puigcerdà (département of
Sègre).
Andorra declared war on
Imperial Germany during
World War I but did not actually take part in the fighting. It remained in an official state of
belligerency until 1957 as it was not included in the
Versailles Peace Treaty.
In 1933 France occupied Andorra as a result of social unrest before elections. On
July 12,
1934, an adventurer named
Boris Skossyreff issued a proclamation in Urgell, declaring himself Boris I, sovereign prince of Andorra, simultaneously declaring war on the bishop of Urgell. He was arrested by Spanish authorities on
July 20 and ultimately expelled from Spain. From 1936 to 1940, a French detachment was garrisoned in Andorra to prevent influences of the
Spanish Civil War and
Franco's Spain.
Francoist troops reached the Andorran border in the later stages of the war.
During
World War II, Andorra remained neutral and was an important smuggling route between
Vichy France and Spain.
Given its relative isolation, Andorra has existed outside the mainstream of European history, with few ties to countries other than France and Spain. In recent times, however, its thriving
tourist industry along with developments in transportation and communications have removed the country from its isolation. Its political system was thoroughly modernized in 1993, the year in which it became a member of the
United Nations.
Politics
Main articles: Politics of Andorra
Andorra is a
co-principality with the
President of France and the
Bishop of Urgell,
Spain as
co-princes, in a
duumvirate. The politics of Andorra take place in a framework of a
parliamentary representative democracy, whereby the
Prime Minister of Andorra is the
head of government, and of a multi-party system.
Executive power is exercised by the government.
Legislative power is vested in both the
government and parliament. The
Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Responsibility for defending Andorra rests with Spain and France. Andorra currently has
no military force.
Parishes
Main articles: Parishes of Andorra
Map of Andorra with its seven regions labeled
Andorra consists of seven municipalities / regions, known as ''comuns'' ("commons", singular ''comú''):
★
Andorra la Vella
★
Canillo
★
Encamp
★
Escaldes-Engordany
★
La Massana
★
Ordino
★
Sant Julià de Lòria
Geography
Main articles: Geography of Andorra
Befitting its location in the eastern
Pyrenees mountain range, Andorra consists predominantly of rugged mountains of an average height of 1996 meters with the highest being the
Coma Pedrosa at 2946 meters. These are dissected by three narrow valleys in a Y shape that combine into one as the main stream, the
Valira river, leaves the country for Spain (at Andorra's lowest point of 870 m). The Andorra surface is 468 km².
Andorra's
climate is similar to its neighbors'
temperate climates, but its higher altitude means there is on average more snow in winter and it is slightly cooler in summer.
Economy
Main articles: Economy of Andorra
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of
GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter
resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of adjoining France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower
tariffs.
The
banking sector, with its
tax haven status, also contributes substantially to the economy.
Agricultural production is limited—only 2% of the land is arable—and most
food has to be
imported. Some tobacco is grown locally. The principal livestock activity is
domestic sheep raising.
Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture.
Andorra is not a
full member of the
European Union, but enjoys a
special relationship with it, such as being treated as an
EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products. Andorra lacks a
currency of its own and uses that of its two surrounding nations. Prior to 1999 these were the
French franc and the Spanish
peseta, which have since been replaced by a single currency, the
euro.
Demographics
Main articles: Demographics of Andorra
Andorrans are a minority in their own country;
Spaniards,
Portuguese,
Frenchmen,
Britons, and
Italians resident in Andorra make up 67.7% of the population.
The national language is
Catalan, a
Romance language. Andorra is one of only four nations (together with France, Monaco, and Turkey) that never signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities
[2].
Religion
Mostly do to its
Spanish,
French,
Portuguese, and
Italian influences, Andorra is a predominantly
Roman Catholic. There is a smaller
Jewish population in Andorra as well.
Culture
Andorran flag on balcony, Ordino.
The official and historic language is
Catalan. Other languages stemming from the immigration such as
Spanish and
French are also commonly spoken.
Portuguese is also noticeable.
Andorra's long
history has provided it with a rich
folklore and an abundance of
folk tales, with roots originating as far as
Andalusia in the south and the
Netherlands in the north.
Andorran culture is Catalan in essence. It has given a significant and easily identifiable contribution to the conglomerate of Catalan culture.
Two writers renowned in Catalonia and the region,
Michèle Gazier and
Ramon Villeró, both come from Andorra.
Andorra is home to folk dances like the
contrapàs and
marratxa, which survive in
Sant Julià de Lòria especially. Andorran folk music has similarities to all of its neighbors, but is especially
Catalan in character, especially in the presence of dances like the
sardana. Other Andorran folk dances include
contrapàs in
Andorra la Vella and
Saint Anne's dance in
Escaldes-Engordany.
See also
References
1. Rank Order - Life expectancy at birth
2. http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ChercheSig.asp?NT=157&CM=&DF=&CL=ENG
External links
★
★
Govern d'Andorra - Official governmental site (in Catalan)
★
Official Tourism Website
★
History of Andorra: Primary Documents
★
HiT Andorra - Andorra's health care system and general historical and government background information
★
U.S. Library of Congress Portals on the World - Andorra
★
★
BBC information on Andorra
★
Andorra's location on a 3D globe (Java)
★
Andorra Paper Money
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