Pallars Jussà is in the Pyrenees, around
the middle Noguera Pallaresa
valley, which opens out further south into the broad
Conca de Tremp, where
the capital, Tremp, is located. In the far northern
part is the Vall Fosca, surrounded by towering peaks:
Subenuix, Peguera, Montsent de Pallars, amid a high
mountain landscape. Among the Pyrenean foothills
are Sant Gervàs, Boumort, Gurp, above the
Conca de Tremp; and the sheer Montsec d'Ares and
Montsec de Rúbies ranges mark the border
with Noguera. The river flows through two defiles:
Collegats, near La Pobla de
Segur, and Terradets,
to the south, forming the great reservoirs of Sant
Antoni and Terradets. In the Middle Ages, Pallars
Jussà was part of the Pyrenean county of
Pallars, which, in the 11th century, was divided
into Pallars
Sobirà and Pallars Jussà, a separation
which has been maintained in the modern territorial
division. Agriculture and exploitation of the woodland
were complemented by small food and textile industries
or wine or eau-de-vie making. In modern times the
hydroelectric industries became firmly established.
In recent decades, tourists have arrived, attracted
by the beauty of the landscape, the walking and climbing,
the fishing and adventure and water sports (on the
reservoirs).
