Andorra
sovereign microstate between France and Spain, in Western Europe From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Andorra (/ænˈdɒrə/ (
listen)), officially the Principality of Andorra, is a landlocked sovereign country located in the eastern Pyrenees Mountains of Southern Europe and bordered by Spain and France.[14]
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Overview
There are about 79,000 people living in Andorra. The capital is Andorra la Vella. It is ruled by a Spanish Bishop and the French President, who hold the title of Co-Prince together. Andorra's government is a parliamentary democracy.
Andorra is a rich country mostly because of tourism. There are about 10.2 million visitors each year.[15] The official language is Catalan, though Spanish and French are also used. The Euro (EUR) is the currency of Andorra, though it is not a member of the European Union (EU).
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History
It is said that emperor Charlemagne gifted the Andorran people their country in the 9th century for fighting against the Moors. Before AD 1095, Andorra was not militarily protected. The Lord of Caboet and the Bishop of Urgell decided to rule Andorra together. Andorra's first legislature was created in AD 1419.
The descendants of the Lord of Caboet eventually became the Kings of France over time. When France became a republic, the French King's position as the Co-Prince was taken up by the President of France.
Andorra declared war on Imperial Germany in World War I, but did not do any fighting. Andorra remained in a state of war against Germany until 1957 as the Andorrans did not sign the Treaty of Versailles.
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Geography
Andorra is situated in the Pyrenees mountain range. The highest mountain is Coma Pedrosa.
Cities
The largest cities in Andorra are:
For other locations in Andorra, see List of cities in Andorra.
Politics
The politics of Andorra are very unique in comparison to the rest of the world. There are two heads of state, the Bishop of Urgell and the President of France, who hold the title of Co-Prince. This is because of an ancient treaty which said the Bishop of Urgell and the French leader would be the Co-Princes.
There is also an elected legislature named the General Council. It has between 28 and 42 members. The head of government is a member of the Council who is elected to the position by the Council.
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Defense
Andorra doesn't have an Army.[16] France and Spain help to defend Andorra. The country has a police force of 295.
Religion
The population of Andorra is mostly (90%) Roman Catholic.[17] Their patron saint is Our Lady of Meritxell.
Education
Children between the ages of 6 and 16 must have full-time education. Education up to secondary level is paid by the government. The University of Andorra (UdA) is the state public university. It is the only university in Andorra.
A satellite image of Andorra
Related pages
References
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