Small landlocked nation, Andorra, is in southwest Europe. Rising in the eastern Pyrenees mountain range, it borders France to the north and Spain to the south. Comprising just 468 km², Andorra is the sixth smallest nation in Europe. Being the biggest among the European microstates, it is also a unique geographical entity in the region.

Rugged mountains that predominate on the country define its terrain. Coma Pedrosa, Andorra’s highest peak, rises 2,942 meters (9,652 feet) in the northwest of the nation close to the boundaries with France and Spain. Among nations in Europe, Andorra ranks among those with the highest average elevation—1,996 meters (6,549 feet). Three small valleys that create a Y shape divide these mountains before converging into the main river of the nation, the Gran Valira. At its lowest point, 840 meters (2,756 feet), this river leaves Andorra, so defining the southernmost point of the nation close to the Spanish border.

Andorra’s elevation shapes its temperature, which causes more winter snowfall than in its surrounding areas. Usually cold with lots of snowfall, winters are followed by cooler, less humid summers brought on by great elevation. With an average of 300 days of sunshine annually, the nation offers a comfortable environment for both residents and visitors.

Andorra is situated in the Atlantic European province, the Circumboreal Region of the Boreal Kingdom. Known for its varied ecosystems and great biodiversity, this classification places Andorra in the Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests ecoregion. Comprising almost 34% of Andorra’s total land area, or about 16,000 hectares, forests cover a significant portion. Though tourism and urbanization in the area have grown, forest cover has stayed constant since 1990. None of the forests, meanwhile, are categorized as primary forests—those defined by native tree species and minimal human intervention.

Because of the mountainous terrain of Andorra, landslides and avalanches are the most often occurring natural hazards there. Although earthquakes are rare, the nation does experience tremors with Richter scale 2; major earthquake history is not known. Still, the government has investigated the prospect of future local seismic activity.

Andorra’s mountainous topography results in a total of 65 peaks scattered over the nation. The highest of the prominent peaks still is Coma Pedrosa. Not less important mountains are Pic de Médécourbe, Pic de Cataperdis, and Pic de Tristaina, all on the French border. From 2,700 meters (8,858 feet) to more than 2,900 meters (9,514 feet), these mountains offer a breathtaking and tough background for the terrain of the nation. Likewise, peaks like Pic de Coma Pedrosa and Pic de la Portelleta add to the amazing scene of Spain along its border.

Apart from its mountainous topography, Andorra boasts plenty of rivers and lakes. The main drain for Spain is the Gran Valira river, which runs southward. The Gran Valira is fed mostly by the Valira d’Orient and the Valira del Nord. Starting in the northwest of Andorra, the Valira del Nord passes via several villages including La Massana and Ordino before merging with the Valira d’Orient in Les Escaldes. Starting in the northeast, the Valira d’Orient passes via Soldeu, Canillo, and Encamp before joining the Valira del Nord. The Gran Valira is Andorra’s biggest and most significant river system made of these tributaries.

There are 172 lakes in Andorra; Estanys de Juclar is the biggest one covering 23 hectares (57 acres). This lake lies northeast of the nation close to the Pic de Noé. Many of these high-altitude lakes add to Andorra’s picturesque appeal and are frequent hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activity destinations.

Andorra’s mountainous topography, which features valleys creating river systems and mountains defining the country’s skyline, shapes its geography. For its people as well as for visitors, its varied terrain offers both possibilities and difficulties. Andorra is still a great place for outdoor lovers and those wishing to see the Pyrenees region’s splendor, given its high elevation-influenced temperature and rich natural surroundings. Maintaining the nation’s forests, lakes, and unique ecosystems guarantees that it will always be a major component of European scenery.