La Massana (; originally La Maçana) 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. Other settlements in the parish are Pal, Arinsal, Erts, Sispony, Anyós, L'Aldosa de la Massana, Puiol del Pui, Escàs, Els Plans, Mas de Ribafeta, Xixerella and Pui. The parish is extremely mountainous and contains the highest mountain in Andorra, Coma Pedrosa (). Its western side limits with Tor, Pallars municipal term, in the border with Spain. Geography Physical geography The parish has an area of , and adjoins the neighbouring parishes of Ordino, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, and Andorra la Vella, and also France (Occitanie) and Spain (Catalonia). 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 , 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 above sea-level. There are four lakes: Forcats, Montmantell, Estany Negre, and Les Truites Lake. The parish has three main rivers. The Valira del Nord, which begins at the Llac de Tristaina, is a long tributary of the Gran Valira. There are also the Pal and the Montaner. The mountains have rough pastures with numerous native species of Pyrenean wildflowers, and extensive forests of pines, firs, birches, wild cherries, and oaks. Climate The average annual temperature of La Massana town is . Across the whole parish, the climate varies greatly with elevation. Regions above the Alpine tree line at about 2100–2400 m have an alpine climate and alpine tundra. The valleys have a milder climate that is essentially temperate. Economy Tourism The main industry is tourism and the parish is a major tourism destination.