Andorra la Vella, tourist, commercial and administrative capital of the Principality is also a reference regarding natural heritage . The most meridional part of the Parrish, with a Continental Mediterranean climate, amalgamates cultivated lands with natural areas in which bushes, oaks woods and forest of holm oaks grow. In the upper part of the mountains, you can find wild pines and Laricio pines with undergrowth of rhododendrons ferrigineum, vaccinium and bearberry. 2400 m above sea level, alpine grasslands are influenced by the atlantic climate. Along rivers and torrents, wonderful forests border the banks. Trekking routes at all levels of difficulty and length cover the capital’s areas : the path of the Costa gets into a wonderful white oak forest and prickley plum trees ; the Serrat path runs across a green oak forest (quite unique in the principality, these species usually belonging to Mediterranean climate zones) with undergrowthof rockroses; and finally the forests of Solobre and Palomera where hazelsand wild pines grow together with wild cherries, birches and white oaks.
Regarding the fauna, you may see marmots, hares, squirrels, the royal eagle, old world vultures, jays, warblers, chaffinches or blackbirds.
Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley : declared World Heritage site by UNESCO in the category of Cultural Landscape in 2004, it covers a surface of 42,47 m2, which represents almost 9% of the total area of the country. The valley offers a microcosmic perspective of the way people have harvested the few resources provided by the high Pyrénées mountains.
A guided tour of the valley gives an overview of high mountain landscapes rich in mountain pines, wild roses, blueberries, buxus and heathers. The fauna is also very rich due to the large space which shelter the blue tit, the squirrel, the marten and the roe deer.
The Natural Park of Sorteny Valley is a botanical haven in which grow over 700 species of flowers and plants, some of them only to be found in the Pyrenees. All tracks (“track of birds, butterflies and humid zones”, “subalpine and alpine fauna and flora, and Estanyò Lake” and “landscape of cirques and old woods”) include the visit of this botanical garden. Do not hesitate to ask for any further information at the information desk located at the entrance of the park.
The Natural Park of Comapedrosa: Comapedrosa peak is the highest point in the Principality (2 942m). Enjoy the ecosystem diversity, the ecological wealth (77% of fauna species and 48% of flora species are to be found in 15,42Km2, that-is-to-say 4% of Andorra’s territory) and the beauty of this area without any hesitation.
Cyclo Tourism in Andorra : The principality of Andorra has suitable climatic conditions to practice a wide range of open air sports. With about 300 days of sunlight a year, this outdoor playground offers a natural setting that has already hold important cycle events such as the ‘Tour de France’, the ‘Vuelta a España’ the ‘Volta a Catalunya’.
The road environment has been adapted for the pleasure of sports professionals and amateurs of cycling : 18 cyclo tourist itineraries have been marked. New marklands with explanations about height, slopes, distance to the arrival point and historical information welcome visitors, surrounded by a panorama naturally beautiful. As a result, 182 km of roads have been marked and 18 mountain passes are ready to be covered by lovers and fans of the ‘Petite Reine’.
Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to ask for our literature about summer activities organised by tourist desks, ski resorts and other professionals (trekking, mountain shelters, mountain bike, horseback riding, hydrospeed and river kayak, climbing, hunting and fishing, scuba diving...).
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