Gardon

Gardon
The Gardon near the Pont du Gard
Country France
Physical characteristics
Main source Cévennes
River mouth Rhône
43°51′6″N 4°36′54″E / 43.85167°N 4.61500°E / 43.85167; 4.61500 (Rhône-Gardon)Coordinates: 43°51′6″N 4°36′54″E / 43.85167°N 4.61500°E / 43.85167; 4.61500 (Rhône-Gardon)
Length 133 km (83 mi)
Discharge
  • Average rate:
    32 m3/s (1,100 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression Rhône→ Mediterranean Sea
Basin size 2,200 km2 (850 sq mi)
Pont du Gard
The Gardon in Anduze
Confluence of the Gardon and the Rhône River at Comps

The Gardon or Gard (Occitan and French: Gardon, Gard) is a river in southern France. It is the namesake of the department of Gard. Several of its tributaries are also called Gardon.

The Gardon is 133 kilometres (83 mi) long, including its longest tributary "Gardon de Saint-Jean". It rises in the Cévennes mountain range and flows into the Rhône River (right-side tributary) at Comps, north of Beaucaire, across from Vallabrègues.

Features

The Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard and the 16th-century Pont Saint-Nicolas are two historic bridges that cross the Gardon. The Gorges du Gardon, which ends at Pont Saint-Nicolas, is a popular recreation area for kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, and hiking.

The village of Collias, approximately 12 kilometres (7 mi) downriver from the Pont Saint-Nicolas, has several kayak and canoe rental agencies which will bus customers upriver to the Pont Saint-Nicolas (until the river level drops low in late June). Departing from Collias by kayak or canoe will bring you to the Pont du Gard in about an hour and one-half. It is possible to kayak or canoe under the Pont du Gard. Though, at times, the river is not high enough to allow for passage.

Floods

In September 2002 and again in December 2003, the Gardon had record level floods that damaged many of its bridges including the Pont Saint-Nicolas, which has since been fully restored. The river today shows few signs of the floods.

Places along the river

La Grand-Combe and Alès are situated on the "Gardon d'Alès", the major left tributary.

References

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