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Andorra Facts & Worksheets

Andorra, officially titled the Principality of Andorra, is a tiny principality (a country ruled by a prince) located in the Pyrenees Mountains between France to north and Spain to the south.

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Andorra, officially titled the Principality of Andorra, is a tiny principality (a country ruled by a prince) located in the Pyrenees Mountains between France to north and Spain to the south. Andorra is a popular destination for skiing and shopping.

See the fact file below for more information on the Andorra or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Andorra worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

INTRODUCTION

  • Andorra is recognized for its ski resorts and a tax-haven status that encourages duty-free shopping.
  • The capital of Andorra, Andorra la Vella, has boutiques and jewelers on Meritxell Avenue and numerous shopping centers.
  • Being the 6th-smallest nation in Europe with an area of 468 square kilometers (181 sq. mi.), Andorra belongs to one of the world’s smallest independent countries.
  • Andorra has a population of approximately 77,006 people, making it the 11th-smallest nation by population in the world.
  • The official language is Catalan, though Spanish, Portuguese, and French are also ordinarily spoken.
  • Andorra is thought to have been created by Charlemagne.
  • It was ruled by the count of Urgell until 988 AD, when it was shifted to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Urgell.
  • The existing principality was formed by a charter in 1278 AD.
  • Andorra is recognized as a principality, as it is a diarchy headed by two princes: the Bishop of Urgell in Catalonia, Spain, and the President of the French Republic.

ETYMOLOGY

  • The source of the word Andorra is unknown, even though several hypotheses have been formulated.
  • The folk etymology claims that Charlemagne had named the region as a reference to the Biblical Canaanite valley of Endor, or Andor (where the Midianites had been defeated), a name bestowed by his descendent and son Louis le Debonnaire after defeating the Moors in the “wild valleys of Hell”.
  • The oldest source of the word “Andorra” is from Greek historian Polybius (The Histories III, 35, 1) who defines the Andosins, an Iberian Pre-Roman tribe, as historically located in the valleys of Andorra and facing the Carthaginian army in its passage through the Pyrenees throughout the Punic Wars.
  • A different theory suggests that the word “Andorra” may be derived from the old word Anorra that contains the Basque word “ur” (water).

HISTORY

  • Andorra was originally created as a buffer state by French Emperor Charlemagne during the Middle Ages.
  • It was intended to keep the Muslim Moors out of France.
  • The Andorrans were supposed to fight off the Moors and protect France.
  • In return, Charlemagne would grant Andorra a charter.
  • There were many of these buffer states created.
  • In the seventh century, Andorra had a series of rulers, starting with Charles the Bald, Charlemagne’s grandson.
  • Andorra was handed off to various leaders, sometimes as a reward and sometimes as part of marriage.
  • In the eleventh century, there was a dispute as to whether France or Spain owned Andorra.
  • To solve the problem, the French president and Spain’s Bishop of Urgell decided to sign a pariage.
  • A pariage recognizes shared rights by two rulers.
  • Andorra is still ruled by the co-princes, who are the Bishop of Urgell from Spain and the French President.
  • Even though Andorra is a small, landlocked country, it still manages to do okay economically, mostly through tourism.
  • Andorra uses the Euro for their currency, or money, although the nation is not a member of the European Union.

GEOGRAPHY

  • Until relatively recently, Andorra had only six communities, known as parishes. Now, Andorra consists of seven, as Escaldes-Engordany was added in 1978.
  • The terrain in Andorra is rough and mountainous. It also has several small mountain lakes and rivers.
  • Due to its high mountain peaks, Andorra is a popular place for winter skiing.
  • The highest point of Andorra is the Coma Pedrosa, which has a height of 2,946m and is situated in the capital city of Andorra la Vella. This is also the highest capital city in Europe.
  • The total size of Andorra is 468 square km, which is 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC.
  • The geographical coordinates of Andorra is 42 30 N, 1 30 E.
  • The climate of Andorra is temperate. There are snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers. Its high elevation causes very cold winters.

ECONOMY

  • Andorra’s greatest industry is tourism. Skiing and shopping are popular activities that attract about 13 million tourists each year.
  • Even though Andorra is small, it’s home to over 270 hotels, 400 restaurants, and a large number of shops.
  • Many goods in Andorra are duty-free, meaning people don’t have to pay taxes on them, which saves money.
  • Banking, construction, and agriculture are also significant industries.
  • Topmost agricultural products are olives, grapes, potatoes, tobacco, rye, wheat, and sheep.
  • Despite its size and not being rich in natural resources, Andorra is one of the twenty-five richest countries in the world.

CULTURE

  • About 90% of Andorra’s population is Roman Catholic, making Catholicism a major part of its culture. Roman art is found in Andorra’s fifty Romanesque churches and in displays in Andorran museums.
  • Only about 37% of Andorra’s population are Andorran citizens. Most of the population is composed of immigrants from Spain, Portugal, and France.
  • Catalan folk dances, such as the contrapas and marraxta, are proudly and enthusiastically performed at festivals and other events.
  • Colorful folk stories and legends are another major part of life in Andorra.
  • Every March, the Big Snow Festival is held at Andorra’s Arinsal ski resort with live music, contests, and parties.
  • Jazz festivals and village festivals are other popular celebrations in Andorra.
  • One very unique Andorran celebration is the International Women’s Clown Festival every May, which brings together female clowns and audience members from around the world, including the United States.
  • Catalan culture is also visible in Andorran food, including fresh vegetables, olive oils, wines, and a large variety of pork and fish dishes.
  • Cheese, lamb, potatoes, cabbage, garlic, and nuts are also recommended.
  • Andorran people live very long lives, having a life expectancy of 80 for men and 84 for women.
  • Andorra has an amazing unemployment rate of only around 1%! This means everyone who can and wants to work has a job.

Andorra Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Andorra across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Andorra worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Andorra, officially titled the Principality of Andorra, which is a tiny principality (a country ruled by a prince) located in the Pyrenees Mountains between France to north and Spain to the south. Andorra is a popular destination for skiing and shopping.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Andorra Facts
  • Andorra
  • Andorra Timeline
  • Andorrable
  • Andora Wordsearch
  • More Info
  • Uniqueness of Andorra
  • Seven Parishes
  • Traditional Dishes
  • People of Andorra
  • Coat of Arms for Andorra

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Link will appear as Andorra Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 20, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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