La Massana

La Massana is one of the seven parishes of the Principality of Andorra. It is located in the northwest of the country.. La Massana is also the name of the main town of the parish. The name Massana derives from the Latin name mattianam for a variety of apple.The parish is extremely mountainous and contains the highest mountain in Andorra, Coma Pedrosa (2942m). Its western side limits with Tor, Pallars municipal term, in the border with Spain.GeographyPhysical geographyThe parish has an area of, and adjoins the neighbouring parishes of Ordino, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, and Andorra la Vella, and also France and Spain. There is of agricultural land, 14% of the total agricultural land in Andorra.The main villages are La Massana (the capital city itself), Pal, Arinsal, Anyós, Erts, Sispony, L'Aldosa, and Escàs. Other settlements are Xixerella, Mas de Ribafeta, El Pui, and Puiol del Piu.Coma Pedrosa in the north-west of the parish is the highest point in the Principality of Andorra at 2942m, and has panoramic views of the Pyrenees. The mountain is also the site of the Coma Pedrosa Nature Reserve. It is covered by heavy snowfalls in winter, and usually retains some snow cover in summer. The four next-highest peaks are Medacorba (2914 m), Sanfonts (2888 m), Pla de l'Estany (2859 m), and Racofred (2837 m). The town of La Massana has an average elevation of 1240m above sea-level.