The Region of A Limia, located in the province of Ourense, owes its entity and configuration to its geological history, since part of the Region is located in a tectonic depression of Tertiary origin, which later was filled with sediment during the Quaternary period.
As a reminder of this geological history, the old Antela Lagoon was conserved with an extension of 42 km2, until in the 50s it was drained for the agricultural use of its lands. This desiccation profoundly modified the hydrographic network of the middle basin of the Limia River, by channelling and rectification of the river bed itself and the construction of numerous drainage channels, and resulting loss of the original alluvial plains..
At present, the Region is one of the Galician territories of greater agricultural production with crops of potato, corn, cereal, extensive horticultural. The development of the livestock sector is added to it, because in the last decade the livestock of the Comarca has reached an important weight in the regional economy, due to the installation and development of numerous farms for intensive breeding of cattle, pigs and poultry. This marked rural character is what marks its current configuration.
On the other hand, in the south of what in its day was the Antela Lagoon in the 70s, several companies dedicated to the extraction of sand of excellent quality and highly appreciated in construction were installed, activity that has generated new wet areas, in this case artificial that try to emulate the old lagoon.
Ecologically, most of the Region of A Limia can be defined as a pseudo-steppe agrarian ecosystem of cereal plain, where live multitude of representative species of this ecosystem. Much of its surface is included in the Natura 2000 Network through two protection figures: the Special Protection Area for Birds ZEPA “A Limia” and the Special Protection Area for the Natural Values “Veiga de Ponteliñares” where the ecosystem of the Limia river has of special relevance..
Downstream of the Region is located the As Conchas reservoir, destined for hydroelectric production, where the waters of the Limia river and its tributaries are collected and temporarily retained. This reservoir collects an abundant tourist and recreational activity, so the maintenance the quality of its waters is essential.
