ANDORRA, a small autonomous and semi-independent State on the Franco-Spanish frontier between the central and east ern Pyrenees. Pop. about 5,20o. Area, 191 sq.m. ; with greatest length about 18m., east to west, and greatest breadth 17m. It is a cluster of mountain valleys, uniting to form the Valira, a tribu tary of the Segre, itself a feeder of the Ebro, surrounded, on all sides save the south-west, by peaks which rise between 5,00o and 1 o,000f t. No part of the valley is below 3,000f t. ; the main Pyre nean crest line, to the north and east is over 8,000 ft. The valleys end in steep cirques which give no passage through the mountain wall. The ports (passes) of Salud, Fraymiquel and Soldeu are open for a part of the year only; while the defile of the Valira below San-Julia-de-Loria offers little easier, if more permanent, passage for communications with Spain. The climate is severe at all levels, and, above 4,5ooft., drought becomes a serious factor, and though most of the valleys are within sub-alpine zones, conif erous forest does not flourish, partly for this reason. Irrigation is thus indispensable to the high meadows, but in the lower valleys large-scale irrigation dates only from 1884. All cultivable areas vary in value according to their exposure to the sun which melts the snows in spring. In the lower valleys torrential activity limits cultivable soil ; the widest stretches are about Andorra la-Vieja. The lateral valleys are in better case, but their alluvial meadows are often too high to be cultivable. The most fertile soil is on artificial terraced slopes. Forests are poor, and have been destroyed by animals and by man for firewood, charcoal, etc. The evergreen oak grows on the sunny slopes around An dorra-la-Vieja, but the olive is nowhere found. At the limits of cultivation bad weather often prevents the ripening of the barley, here sown before or soon after the harvest time. Higher still, in the Alpine zone, are great stretches of summer pasture which provide food for many more sheep than Andorra itself can sup port through the winter. When the land was first peopled is unknown. At various times the high valleys have doubtless served as refuges for peoples pressed up from the plain, as in the Caucasus, and it is known that French and Spanish deserters have frequently retired there. The Andorran, however, is stubborn and independent, and mistrusts intruders. Pastoral life is naturally well-developed, and the inhabitants of the groups of valleys hold the high pastures in cernmon; a fact which tended towards auton omy in many mountain valleys of the Pyrenees, particularly in the middle ages. The richest soil is given up to tobacco culture, the crop constituting the main wealth of the country. Exported ( mainly contraband) tobacco is found for a great distance around, both in Spain and in the Ariege basin. The need of hay for winter fodder for the sheep further limits cereal culture. Meadowland is highly prized and tends to extend at the expense of the cultivated soil; and even the potato, the introduction of which meant much to most regions of the Pyrenees, forms with barley only a poor supplement to pastoral products. Climate and soil alike are unfavourable to wheat.
Besides the local movement to high pastures in summer there is well developed transhumance in the migration of vast flocks of sheep from the distant plains of the lower Segre (Llanos del Urgel) and the Ariege, the total summer flocks of Andorra being estimated at about 30,00o head. In most parts the frontier against France lies in areas which form natural regions, so that treaties, lies ou paceries, for peaceful exploitation, regardless of national or political considerations, are of long standing. Against Spain, on the east, the frontier sometimes descends be yond the crests to include the head-waters of opposing streams. Lower down the slopes, herds of horses, mules and cattle find sustenance, while the goat also plays an important part in Andorran life. For all animals, however, the problem is lack of winter food, and the autumnal fairs, visited by Catalan dealers, are very important and are held both in Andorra and over the Spanish border. Industry, apart from the half-dozen tobacco "factories," is merely domestic, and lack of capital and initiative, remoteness and poorness of communications prevent development. Mineral deposits include silver, lead and in particular iron ores, which were formerly worked and reduced with charcoal, as several ruined forges testify. The only roads are bridle-paths, and a mu nicipal road over the Spanish frontier to Seo de Urgel, along which a motor-omnibus service operates. In 1904 France and Spain agreed to build a railway from Ax to Ripoll, which would greatly facilitate traffic, but little progress has been made.
There are two contrasted types of settlement, the permanent and the temporary village, but the houses are grouped together in both cases. The former, extending up to the limit of 6,000ft., are generally on slopes facing south. The largest agglomerations are in the plains about Andorra-la-Vieja and Encamp. The tempo rary (summer) habitations generally occur between 5,200 and 6, 5oof t. ; but "migration" here is sometimes on a small scale, al though in some districts the peasants spend nine months of the year at the high villages (cortals). The limited resources of the high valleys necessitate emigration.
The independence of Andorra is traditionally ascribed to Charlemagne, like many other Pyrenean anomalies. Since 1278 the principality has been under the joint suzerainty of the French State (which inherited the rights of the Counts of Foix) and the Spanish bishops of Urgel, and the two powers, who receive an nual dues of 96o francs and 46o pesetas respectively, have mu tually checked innovations in a land where mediaeval usages naturally persist. Thus Andorra is not a republic; its official title is "les Vallees et Suzerain°tes." It is governed by a Council General of 24 members, elected for four years by the heads of families in each of the six parishes of Andorra-la-Vieja, Encamp, La Massana, Ordino, Canillo and San-Julia-de-Loria. A First Syndic, chosen by the Council constitutes the supreme executive ; and a Second Syndic serves as deputy. In civil matters the ju dicial power is exercised in the first instance by two civil judges (Bayles) appointed by France and by the bishop respectively. There is a Court of Appeal and also a Supreme Court at Perpig nan. The final appeal is either to the supreme court or to the Ecclesiastical Court at Urgel. For criminal suits two magistrates (Viguiers) preside at Andorra-la-Vieja, the capital, a village of some 600 inhabitants. In the "government house" here the Coun cil General meets. A permanent delegate, the prefect of the de partment of Pyrenees Orientales, has charge of the interests of France. The Andorrans have shown some resentment of French encroachments, e.g. in 1928; and in it was found necessary to disarm the police. Catalan is the language spoken, and French and Spanish currency are both in use.