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Andorra
Learn Spanish in Andorra, one of the world’s many Spanish-speaking countries. The best way to learn any language is by total immersion, so you can be surrounded by your new language and begin to live and feel it in the country of your choice. • a good grammar learning system,(there are some useful Grammar pages on this site...) • an effective vocabulary learning system to prepare you with a good vocabulary base (such as the innovative and fun 200 words a day), • and a course onsite with a professional teacher. We are currently researching Spanish Language schools in Andorra. However, you may consider a Language school in nearby Barcelona, and making an excursion to Andorra.
If you want to learn Spanish in Andorra, go to Barcelona! A Brief bit of Background on AndorraFor 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by the French Chief of State and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel. In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, the mountainous state achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes. Geography AndorraLocation: Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 468 sq km; water: 0 sq km; land: 468 sq km Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC.Land boundaries: total: 120.3 km.Border countries: France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys Elevation extremes: lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m. highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead Land use: arable land: 2.22%; permanent crops: 0% ; other: 97.78% (1998 est.) Natural hazards: avalanches Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal.Environment - international agreements: party to: Hazardous Wastes signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements.Geography - note: landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees. People AndorraPopulation: 69,150 (July 2003 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.1% (male 5,473; female 4,974) Government AndorraCountry name: conventional long form: Principality of Andorra. conventional and local short form: Andorra. local long form: Principat d'Andorra.Government type: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives.Capital: Andorra la Vella.Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria Independence: 1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel).National holiday: Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278) Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; approved by referendum 14 March 1993; came into force 4 May 1993 Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal.Executive branch: Chief of state: French Coprince - the President of France, who has a local representative; and a Spanish Coprince who also has a local representative.Elections: Executive Council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term; election last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held NA 2005).Cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive Council president. Head of government: Executive Council President Legislative branch: Unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms). Elections: last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 46.1%, PSD 30%, PD 23.8%, other 0.1%; seats by party - PLA 15, PSD 6, PD 5, independents 2 Judicial branch: Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts; Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de Justicia d'Andorra; Supreme Council of Justice or Consell Superior de la Justicia; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional.Political parties: Democratic Party or PD (formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND); Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA (used to be Liberal Union or UL); Liberal Union or UL; National Democratic Group or AND; National Democratic Initiative or IDN; New Democracy or ND; Social Democratic Party or PSD (formerly part of National Democratic Group of AND); Union of the People of Ordino (Unio Parroquial d'Ordino) or UPO.note: there are two other small parties. International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (observer).Diplomatic representation from the US: The US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain. Flag description: Three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem. Economy AndorraEconomy - overview: 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 neighboring 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. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products. GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (2000 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 3.8% (2000 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2000 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%; highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (2000) Labor force: 33,000 (2001 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 21%, services 78% (2000 est.) Unemployment rate: 0% Budget: revenues: $385 million; expenditures: $342 million (1997). Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0%; hydro: 0% other: 0% nuclear: 0%;note - most electricity supplied by Spain and France; Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower.Agriculture - products: small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep.Exports: $58 million f.o.b. (1998) Exports - commodities: tobacco products, furniture.Exports - partners: Spain 58%, France 34% (2000).Imports: $1.077 billion (1998). Imports - commodities: consumer goods, food, electricity Imports - partners: Spain 48%, France 35%, US 2.3% (2000) Currency: euro (EUR) Currency code: EUR Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 1.0626 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999) Communications AndorraTelephones - main lines in use: 32,946 (December 1998) Telephones - mobile cellular: 14,117 (December 1998) Telephone systems: Domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges. International: landline circuits to France and Spain.Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998) Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997) Internet country code: .ad Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000) Internet users: 24,500 (2001)Transportation AndorraRailways: 0 km Highways: total: 269 km; paved: 198 km; unpaved: 71 km (1994 est.).Waterways: none Ports and harbors: none Airports: none (2002) Military Andorra Military branches: no regular military forces, but there is a police force. Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain. Transnational Issues Andorra Disputes - international: none; border is undemarcated in sections but is not in dispute (a few French farmers still remain upset about the transfer of 35 hectares of land to Andorra) Search the Learn Spanish Help site for more infoArgentina | Belize | Bolivia | Colombia | Chile | Costa Rica | Cuba | Dominican Republic | Ecuador | El Salvador | Gibraltar | Guatemala | Honduras | Mexico | Nicaragua | Panama | Peru | Puerto Rico | Spain | Uruguay | Venezuela | Site Map | Contact Us | Learn Spanish Help. Copyright 2011. 32 Alverton, Great Linford, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom |
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