It is true that Andorra is well known for its shopping centers and its wide ski resorts. But what is the impact of this reputation? Well, while the valleys are crowded during the holidays, the remaining mountains and large forests (80% of the territory) are not much visited though it offers the interested hikers, a large range of spectacular views and tracks.
With an average altitude of 2000 m., the tiny country in the Pyrenees has 70 lakes (high in the mountains), 100 peaks of more than 2500 m., as well as 30 mountain refuges!
The Izard, the deer, the bighorn sheep live all over the country, even in protected areas. Regarding the birds , there are plenty of different species, depending on the altitude and habitats : golden eagle, bearded vulture, rock ptarmigan, Tengmalm’s owl, common rock thrush, wallcreeper, alpine chough, red-billed chough, red crossbill, alpine accentor… the list of these mythical birds is long. Nevertheless the big star of the Andorran forest is the capercaillie, which is more numerous here than anywhere else in the Pyrenees.
