Andorra Welcomes Summer Snow
By Paul la Vella-7925
Europe's weather this summer has been a strange mix, with different countries experiencing greatly differing weather patterns.

Mediterranean countries such as Greece have seen temperatures soar over the hundred farenheit mark, while in the UK floods caused misery for hundreds of thousands of people.

The floods affecting large parts of England have claimed four lives, and left a hundred thousand homes without water for two weeks in parts of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Insurance companies have warned that the floods will cost small businesses millions, and insurers are expecting tens of millions in claims from homeowners. The British government has offered emergency aid to the worst affected areas to help with the cost of the clear-up. Yorkshire in the north of England saw some of the heaviest flooding, with thousands of homes left without power and three people dying.

But extreme weather, with snow in July, was a welcome sight in the French Pyrenees and Andorra in particular which had little snow in their usual ski season of December to April, bringing hope that this winter will see a good level of snow.

Andorra is a ski country and a well known tax haven, and traditionally the year gets off to a flying start with many serious skiers.

But this year proved to be different, with the worst snow falls for twenty years and a distinct lack of tourists.

Andorra has invested heavily in new infrastructure and facilities for the ski tourist in recent years, which would make a second successive poor season particularly hard to bear for the Andorra ski and snowboarding industry, if there is a lack of snow for the 2007-8 season as well.

This year Andorra opened a new family friendly ski park in Arinsal, moving away from her old image of a cheap and cheerful ski holiday for 18-30 year olds to one that caters well for all. The snow park includes a conveyor belt and a game zone, designed to give children confidence before they ski and use the chair lifts.

Andorra is fortunate compared to many regions where ski holidays are an important part of the economy, as it is also a tax haven, second only to Monaco in Europe for popularity, and equal in tax benefits.

As well as attracting new residents with high

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