The river Segre forms the backbone of the region and provides it
with its character and its shape. Around Seu - where it joins
up with the Valira on its way down from Andorra - the river turns
south where it must cross the Tres Ponts gorge and other geological
difficulties.The four main centres are found along the river: la Seu,
the area’s main town and the largest population of the Hautes-Pyrénées,
is an Episcopal town with Roman roots; Organyà, the town of the
Homilies, Coll de Nargó, the rafting capital of the Segre, and
Oliana, the doorway to the routes to the plains. On both riverbanks,
the side valleys provide the area with human richness and landscape
diversity. At the Cerdanya border, around Alt Urgell in Baridà,
with the municipalities of Cava, Pont de Bar and Arsèguel. Bordering
to the north with Andorra, Bescaran, Arcavell, Estamariu, to the south
towards the Cadí slope, with Vilanova de Banat, Alàs and
Ortedó. Following the river south with the riverbank towns, the
heart of l’Urgellet: Montferrer, Arfa, Adrall and el Pla. Rising
towards Andorra, to the right of the Valira, the famous Sant Joan valleys
which reach up to the highest part of the region: the Salòria
peak. Down below, the Castellbó valley, full of stories. Towards
el Pallars, the Aguilar valleys, the land of ancestral pastures.
On the other side of Tres Ponts, to the left of the Segre, appears
the river Lavansa, winding course through an enclosed valley. The valley
on the south face of the Cadí, with Josa, Tuixén and the
towns of Lavansa, has conserved all its personality. To the south, the
Alinyà valleys, a region of forests and legendary horsemen. Before
Organyà, the valley of Cabó, Montanissell, Sallent, los
Prats and the formidable Valldarques canyon, a fragment of Catalonia
where the landscape is both beautiful and impressive, but at the same
time difficult and harsh. And also Gavarra, an exceptional observation
point spread out over the plain. On the gentler side of the Segre, Peramola
and its inland, with pronounced, suggestive names, we find: Castell-llebre,
Cortiuda, Rumbau. To the south, the lands affected by the Rialb reservoir:
Basella, Castellnou and Aguilar. We also find la Clua, a survivor, upon
high. Next to the Ribera Salada, Ogern and Altés route. At noon,
the smooth final plains of Mirambell and Guardiola: the mountains can
be made out to the north.
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