The comarca (local district) of El Pallars Sobirà (Spain) has a surface area of 1,355 km2, a population of over 5,700 inhabitants and 15 municipal areas. The local economy of this high mountain comarca has been traditionally based on primary sector activities such as agriculture, fisheries and forestry, complemented by obtaining salt from the Gerri salt mines. Since the middle of the 20th century, this area has witnessed major developments in the hydroelectric power industry, taking advantage of the area’s great abundance of water. But a decisive change has taken place over recent decades with the tourism, qattracted by the beauty of its countryside, the character of its villages and the possibilities that it offers for sports and leisure activities.

As far as skiing is concerned it is possible to enjoy Alpine skiing at the ski resorts of Super Espot and Port Ainé, and Nordic skiing at the Pleta del Prat and Tavascan resorts. Canoeing, adventure sports, hunting and fishing are amongst the other sorting activities that can be enjoyed in this comarca. The Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is one of the most treasured places in the Pyrenees. L’Alta Ribagorça (Spain) contains the easternmost section of the National Park, while the Pallars comarques, and particularly the Espot valley, house its western part.