Les Escaldes
Les Escaldes (Catalan pronunciation: [ləz əsˈkaldəs]) or Escaldes is an urban area in Escaldes-Engordany parish, Andorra. It is located near the nation's capital, Andorra la Vella.
Les Escaldes | |
---|---|
Les Escaldes Location in Andorra | |
Coordinates: 42°30′N 1°32′E | |
Country | Andorra |
Parish | Escaldes-Engordany |
Elevation | 1,053 m (3,455 ft) |
Overview
The name Les Escaldes comes from the presence of numerous hot springs, which produce highly sulphurous and nitrogenous waters at temperatures between 22 and 66 °C (72 and 151 °F).[1] The hot springs were known by the Romans who used them for medical purposes.[1]
There was a textile industry from the Middle Ages, producing woven fabrics and umbrellas in several guilds. The area is also known for its traditional dance, the Santa Anna.[1]
In the 1800s some proposed establishing baths to take advantage of the natural hot springs, but there was resistance from the government of Les Escaldes, possibly for fear that visitors to the hot springs would bring diseases to Andorra.[2]
Nowadays Les Escaldes is home to the spa resort Caldea.
Education
The Spanish international primary school Escuela Española de Escaldes serves the community.[3]
Climate
Climate data for Les Escaldes | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 15 (59) |
17 (63) |
20 (68) |
25 (77) |
29 (84) |
36 (97) |
35 (95) |
33 (91) |
31 (88) |
27 (81) |
20 (68) |
13 (55) |
36 (97) |
Average high °C (°F) | 6 (43) |
7 (45) |
12 (54) |
14 (57) |
17 (63) |
23 (73) |
26 (79) |
24 (75) |
22 (72) |
16 (61) |
10 (50) |
6 (43) |
15.3 (59.5) |
Average low °C (°F) | −1 (30) |
−1 (30) |
2 (36) |
4 (39) |
6 (43) |
10 (50) |
12 (54) |
12 (54) |
10 (50) |
6 (43) |
2 (36) |
−1 (30) |
5.1 (41.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | −13 (9) |
−18 (0) |
−9 (16) |
−4 (25) |
0 (32) |
2 (36) |
5 (41) |
4 (39) |
2 (36) |
−5 (23) |
−5 (23) |
−11 (12) |
−18 (0) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 34 (1.3) |
37 (1.5) |
46 (1.8) |
63 (2.5) |
105 (4.1) |
69 (2.7) |
65 (2.6) |
98 (3.9) |
81 (3.2) |
73 (2.9) |
68 (2.7) |
69 (2.7) |
808 (31.8) |
Source: BBC Weather [4] |
References
- Les Escaldes Archived 3 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Enciclopèdia Catalana. (in Catalan)
- Dalmau de Baquer, D. Luis (1849). Historia de la República de Andorra (in Spanish). Barcelona. p. 52.
- "Inicio Archived 2015-08-16 at the Wayback Machine." Escuela Española de Escaldes. Retrieved on 2 May 2015. "FITER I ROSSELL, 18 AD700 – ESCALDES-ENGORDANY" – Map
- "Average Conditions Les Escaldes, Andorra". BBC Weather. Retrieved 17 July 2010.