The pass marks the watershed of the Pyrenees, being the only point in Andorra where water drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and is the source of the Ariège river.

The ski resort of Pas de la Casa sits below the pass on the side closest to France, and below the Pic d'Envalira (2,827 metres (9,275 ft)).

Its popularity has grown with the burgeoning ski and snowboard industry in the principality: it is the highest resort in Andorra,[citation needed] has the best snow record,[1] and is the easiest to get to from the Barcelona and Toulouse airports.

[citation needed] It is also favoured for its southern latitude and duty-free status, which for many overcome the drawbacks of the long airport transfer times.

Summers are generally cool thanks to the high elevation of the town (2080m), and winters often under freezing, with regular snowfall and occasional snowstorms, with the temperature dropping further to below -10 °C (14 °F) some nights during those.