Located in Andorra’s parish of Escaldes-Engordany, Estany de la Nou is an amazing glacial lake adding to the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. At 2,244 meters above sea level, this peaceful location offers a magnificent show of the historical importance and natural beauty of the area. Nestled in the Perafita Valley, the lake offers a unique chance for guests to learn about Andorra’s glacial past and the complex relationship with the surrounding terrain.

The lake covers about 1.2 hectares and is fed from below ground waters, which guarantees its pure quality and prevents complete freezing in the bitterly cold winter months. The waters coming from Estany de la Nou flow into the Perafita River, which then combines with the Madriu River to enhance the Valira d’Orient. A vital part of a hydrological system, the rivers support not only the different human activities inside the area but also the ecological equilibrium. Significantly, the water from the Madriu River is channeled through subterranean tunnels to Engolasters Lake for electricity generation, illustrating the harmonic integration of natural resources into sustainable energy systems.

The name “Estany de la Nou” has interesting etymological background. From the Latin “stagnum,” which denotes “expanse of water,” “estany” comes; the meanings of “Nou” vary. While some scholars—including the Catalan linguist Joan Coromines—suggest a link to the Latin term “nux,” which translates to “nut,” others find similarities to “naucus,” derived from “navis,” implying a channel for subterranean water. By means of analogies with other hydrographic toponyms like Nou Fonts and Naviners, the designation of the lake captures the linguistic and cultural depth of the Andorran region.

With an average annual temperature of 3°C, the climatic conditions around Estany de la Nou are essentially continental. Whereas January, the month of most cold, suffers lows falling to −6°C, July, the month of most warmth, sees temperatures rising to 16°C. With November identified as the month with most rainfall and December noted for relative aridity, the annual precipitation totals almost 1,002 millimetres. Together with significant winter snowfall, the interaction of these climatic conditions ensures a constant discharge of water from the lake’s outlets over all seasons.

Starting at the La Comella estate close to Andorra la Vella, the journey to Estany de la Nou is an amazing one. Rising through the Prat Primer valley, the road winds past the Prat Primer mountain hut before falling toward the Claror hut. Trekkers then follow the GRP markers guiding to the lake. One can reach Estany de la Nou by means of the GRP d’Andorra, a circular path spanning all the parishes of the principality, or the GR 11. The paths give hikers a chance to interact with Andorra’s varied topography, which includes forested hills and rich meadows.

Grasslands mostly composed of Nardus stricta, a grass species typical of subalpine zones in areas having undergone deforestation define the area including Estany de la Nou. Mountain pines (Pinus uncinata) and rhododendrons (Rhododendron ferrugineum) define the nearby woodlands and help to add to their biological diversity. With capacities of six and twenty respectively, the Perafita and Claror refuges, which lie a kilometer from the lake, provide handy resting places for hikers.

With only two residents per square kilometer, the lake and its environs show a minimum human presence despite their remote location. The low population density ensures that the natural beauty of the area is mostly maintained, offering a calm haven for visitors. Estany de la Nou’s appeal is much enhanced by the breathtaking Pyrenees, which feature the region’s highest point at 2,735 meters located 1.8 kilometers south of the lake.

Estany de la Nou stands out among other Pyrenees lakes in that its waters flow constantly, fed year-round from underground springs. This unique quality emphasizes the importance of the lake as a necessary natural reservoir and promotes a perfect aquatic ecosystem. Including this component into the nearby hydrological system emphasizes its significance in the more general ecological setting of Andorra.

Estany de la Nou is a great example of the complex interaction among natural beauty, cultural legacy, and sustainable practices, transcending the description of a simple glacial lake. Hidden treasure within the Andorran highlands, the lake invites those who want to discover and value its beauty with its stunning surroundings, great diversity, and calm environment.