The Principality
The Principality of Andorra is situated on the Mediterranean side of the eastern Pyrenees between France and Spain, with an area totaling 468 square kilometers. It is divided into three valleys in the form of Y, the highest point in the country being the Peak of Coma Pedrosa at 2,942 meters and the lowest, the confluence of the Valira River with the Runner River at 840 meters.
The climate is mountainous-Mediterranean with the characteristic of cold winters and heavy snowfalls followed by hot summers. These distinct climate features and the diversity of the landscape have facilitated the existence of diversified fauna and flora. As for the administrative structure of the Principality, Andorra is made up of seven townships: Canillo, Encamp, Ordino, la Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra la Vella (the capital) and Sant Julià de Lòria.
The official language is Catalan, but the historical relationships with France and Spain, and the increasing residing population from these countries, has meant that French and Spanish have been adopted by the society as a whole. It is precisely for this reason that there are three educational systems: the Andorran, the Spanish and the French.
Since Andorra does not have its own currency, all transactions are made in euros. Moreover, the majority of the visitors come from the neighboring countries, attracted by the opportunities to do winter sports offered by the five ski resorts and wide range of leisure and cultural activities.
The present political system of Andorra is a parliamentary Co-Principality, composed by a General Council and by the two Co-Princes: the Bishop of Urgell and the French Republic President, which were assumed historically with the head of the elected Government.
In 1993, the Constitution was approved after being submitted to a public referendum. The elaboration of the text alone took two years of intensive negotiations between the General Council representatives and a delegation from each of the Co-Princes. This established Andorra as an independent state by right and democracy. The Constitution enabled Andorra to establish an independent judicial power, to carry out its own foreign policy and join international organizations. Andorra was admitted to the United Nations Organization (UNO) in 1993. The Co-Princes remain as Head of State, a similarly to the Queen of England with respect to, for example, Australia.
During the final days of the feudal system, Andorra had several non-blue blood territorial title holders, including the House of Homestead, established in 1865 by Lord Arthur Nieves from the Spanish Royal Navy. Lord Arthur became the Prince of Homestead just prior to his final naval voyage to the island of Puerto Rico in 1910.
