Verdon (river)

Verdon Gorge

The Verdon ( in the Middle Ages Virdones ) is a river in France, which runs in the Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur. It rises in the French Maritime Alps, in the municipality of Allos. Its source is located north- west of the Col d' Allos, on the southern flank of the summit of Tête de la Sestriere ( 2575 meters ). The river drains and flows generally southwest after 166 kilometers below Viñón -sur -Verdon, but already in the municipality of Saint -Paul- lès -Durance, in the backwater of the Barrage de Cadarache, as a left tributary of the Durance. The Verdon crosses on his way the departments of Alpes- de -Haute -Provence and Var, whose border it forms in many parts of its course. In the opening section, he also touches on the départements of Vaucluse and Bouches -du -Rhône.

Places on the river

  • Allos
  • Colmar
  • Saint -André- les- Alpes
  • Castellane
  • Gréoux -les- Bains
  • Viñón -sur -Verdon

Hydrology

In the course of the Verdon total of five dams on the Lac de Castillon, Lac de Chaudanne, Lac de Sainte- Croix, Retenue de Quinson and Lac d' Esparron were built not only for the purpose of power generation 1923-1975. The most famous and largest reservoir is located behind a built 1971-1974 dam south of Sainte- Croix. The resulting through its establishment Lac de Sainte -Croix covers 21.80 km ² and holds up to 761 million cubic meters of water.

Tributaries

Left tributaries:

  • Jabron (31 miles)
  • Artuby (54 miles)

Rights tributaries:

  • Issole (27 miles)
  • Construction or Baou (14 miles)
  • Colostre (36 miles)

Attractions

The entire middle and lower reaches of the river is located in the Regional Natural Park Verdon. The most scenic section is located between the town of Castellane and the Lac de Sainte- Croix. There is at 21 km Length of the Verdon Gorges du Verdon ( Gorges du Verdon, the Grand Canyon du Verdon ), one of the hugest and most impressive gorges in Europe. The most spectacular part of the gorge accompanied, partly on higher level corniche through the gorge sublime or at high altitudes, a street. There are on this route again and again very nice sections with deep insights into and across the valley, but few opportunities to descend. Great for whitewater kayaking, rock climbing and adventure hikes. In France, this climbing style culture is supposed to have taken here as the first foot.

Entrance of the gorge from the bridge at Lac de Sainte -Croix

Inside, the Gorges du Verdon

The Lac de Sainte -Croix with the castle of Aiguines

Lac de Chaudanne

Vinon-sur-Verdon Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Colmars Lake of Sainte-Croix Whitewater canoeing
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