La Massana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Massana
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The towns of La Massana and Ordino (in the foreground)
viewed from the peak of Casamanya (2740 m) |
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 La Massana
Location in Andorra
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| Country | Andorra | ||
| Parishes | La Massana | ||
| Villages | Anyós, Arinsal, El Pui, Erts, Escàs, L'Aldosa, Mas de Ribafeta, Pal, Puiol del Piu, Sispony, Xixerella |
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| Area | |||
| • Total | 65 km2 (25 sq mi) | ||
| Highest elevation | 2,942 m (9,652 ft) | ||
| Lowest elevation | 1,134 m (3,720 ft) | ||
| Population
(2015)
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| • Total | 10,359 | ||
| • Density | 159.4/km2 (413/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Massanenc, Massanenca | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| ISO 3166 code | AD-04 | ||
| Website | Official site: http://www.lamassana.ad/ | ||
La Massana is one of the seven areas called "parishes" in the country of Andorra. It is located in the northwest part of Andorra. The main town in this parish is also called La Massana. The name "Massana" comes from an old Latin word for a type of apple.
This parish is very mountainous. It is home to Coma Pedrosa, which is the highest mountain in all of Andorra.
Contents
Geography of La Massana
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La Massana parish covers an area of 65 square kilometers (about 25 square miles). It shares borders with other parishes in Andorra, like Ordino and Andorra la Vella. It also borders France and Spain.
Mountains, Lakes, and Rivers
The highest point in La Massana, and in all of Andorra, is Coma Pedrosa. This mountain is 2,942 meters (9,652 feet) tall. From its top, you can see amazing views of the Pyrenees mountains. Coma Pedrosa is also part of a special nature reserve. It gets a lot of snow in winter and often keeps some snow even in summer.
Other tall mountains nearby include Medacorba (2,914 m) and Sanfonts (2,888 m). The town of La Massana itself is about 1,240 meters (4,068 feet) above sea level.
There are four lakes in the parish: Forcats, Montmantell, Estany Negre, and Les Truites Lake. Three main rivers flow through the area. The Valira del Nord river is 14 kilometers (9 miles) long. It starts at Llac de Tristaina and flows into the larger Gran Valira river. The Pal and Montaner rivers are also important.
Plants and Animals
The mountains in La Massana have many wild plants and flowers that grow in the Pyrenees. There are also large forests filled with different types of trees. You can find pines, firs, birches, wild cherries, and oak trees here.
Climate and Weather
The average temperature in La Massana town is about 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit). The weather in the parish changes a lot depending on how high up you are. High up in the mountains, above where trees can grow, the climate is very cold, like an alpine tundra. In the valleys, the weather is milder and more temperate.
Economy and Activities
The main way people in La Massana make a living is through tourism. Many visitors come here for holidays.
Fun for Tourists
In winter, people enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and ski biking. The main ski resort is Vallnord. It has two main areas, Arinsal and Pal, with 89 kilometers (55 miles) of ski runs. These runs go from 2,600 meters (8,530 feet) down to 1,550 meters (5,085 feet).
In summer, people come for hiking, climbing, and mountain biking. You can also go on 4x4 trails or try canyoning, which involves traveling through canyons using different methods like walking, climbing, and swimming.
Farming and Building
About 262 hectares (647 acres) of land are used for farming. Farmers grow tobacco, vegetables like potatoes, and grains. On the higher slopes, there are pastures where dairy cows are raised. Horses are also kept for trekking holidays.
The construction industry and real estate are also important parts of the local economy.
Culture and Places to Visit
La Massana has some interesting places to visit and fun celebrations.
Museums and History
- The Casa Rull Ethnographic Museum in Sispony shows what life was like for families in Andorra a long time ago.
- Farga Rossell is an old forge, a place where metal was shaped. It was built in the mid-1800s. You can watch demonstrations of how iron was worked there.
Local Celebrations
The parish holds several festivals and public parties throughout the year.
- The festa patronale is on November 17.
- The festa major is on August 15.
- The Rosary fete is held on the second Sunday of July.
- Another festival happens in late June or early July. It celebrates the blessing of livestock (farm animals) and pastures (fields where animals graze).
Getting Around La Massana
La Massana has roads, tunnels, and gondola lifts to help people travel. There are no trains, large ports, or airports directly in the parish.
Bus Services
Regular bus services run throughout La Massana. You can travel to most places within Andorra by bus. There are also longer bus trips to cities outside Andorra, like Barcelona in Spain and Toulouse in France.
Roads and Tunnels
The main road, CG-3, connects La Massana to the nearby parish of Ordino. The CG-3/CG-4 main road links La Massana to the capital city, Andorra La Vella.
There are two road tunnels on the CG-3/CG-4 route:
- The Pont Pla Tunnel is 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) long and was built in 2006. It has been called one of the best and safest tunnels in Europe.
- The Sant Antoni Tunnel is 280 meters (306 yards) long and was built in 2003.
The roads in La Massana are being improved. This includes building new tunnels, making roads wider, adding better signs, creating bicycle lanes, and improving safety with things like crash barriers.
The Dos Valires Tunnel was finished in 2012. It connects Anyós to Encamp. This tunnel greatly reduces travel time between these places, from 30-45 minutes to just 5 minutes.
Heliports
There are two heliports in the area for helicopters: one in La Massana town (Heliport Terra Guindaldes) and one in Arinsal. These offer commercial helicopter services. There is also a heliport in the capital, Andorra la Vella Heliport.
You cannot book regular passenger flights to these heliports. However, you can book special taxi flights from airports like Barcelona, Lleida, Perpignan, or Toulouse. Andorra does not have its own airport. The closest one is Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport in Spain, about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the border.
Gondola Lifts
A gondola lift connects the town of La Massana to the Vallnord ski station (Pal-Arinsal sector). This lift runs all year round. There are also more gondola lifts within the ski resorts themselves.
Famous People from La Massana
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Many interesting people have connections to La Massana:
- Siegfried Grabner (born 1975) is an Austrian professional snowboarder who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics. He lives in La Massana.
- Josep Gómes (born 1985 in La Massana) is an international footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.
- Philippe Shangti (born 1983) is a modern artist from France who lives and works in La Massana. He represented Andorra at a big art show called the 58th Venice Biennale.
- Maria Ubach i Font (born 1973 in La Massana) is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Andorra.
- Roger Vidosa (born 1984 in La Massana) is an alpine skier. He competed in the Winter Olympics in both 2006 and 2010.
See also
In Spanish: La Massana para niños
