The Escales reservoir is a reservoir belonging to the Noguera Ribagorçana river, created by a dam located between the municipalities of Tremp (formerly part of Espluga de Serra) and Sopeira (formerly part of Sant Orenç), stretching across the municipalities of Tremp and El Pont de Suert, in the regions of Pallars Jussà and Alta Ribagorça respectively, on the eastern half, under Catalan administration, and those of Sopeira and Bonansa, also Ribagorçan municipalities, on the western half, under Aragonese administration.
The reservoir has flooded the villages of Casterner de les Olles and Aulet (the first in Catalonia and the second in Aragon), the ancient bridge of Celles, and the Romanesque monastery of Lavaix.
Built in 1955 to produce hydroelectric energy and located at the foot of the N-230 highway at the entrance of El Pont de Suert, it is the largest and most emblematic in the region. It offers crystal-clear water and rocky corners ideal for practicing all kinds of water sports and recreational activities such as fishing, water skiing, and kayaking, among others.
It has an impressive retaining dam next to which there are steps carved into the rock. At the tail of the reservoir, at the foot of the N-260 highway, towards La Pobla de Segur, the ruins of the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria de Lavaix appear.
