| Gardon | |
|---|---|
 The Gardon near thePont du Gard | |
.png) | |
| Location | |
| Country | France |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Cévennes |
| Mouth | Rhône |
• coordinates | 43°51′6″N4°36′54″E / 43.85167°N 4.61500°E /43.85167; 4.61500 |
| Length | 133 km (83 mi) |
| Basin size | 2,200 km2 (850 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 32 m3/s (1,100 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Rhône→Mediterranean Sea |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Gardon d'Alès |
TheGardon orGard (Occitan andFrench:Gardon, Gard,French pronunciation:[ɡaʁdɔ̃]ⓘ,[ɡaʁ]ⓘ) is ariver in southernFrance. It is the namesake of thedepartment ofGard. Several of its tributaries are also calledGardon. It is 127.6 km (79.3 mi) long, and takes its source in the commune ofSaint-Martin-de-Lansuscle, in theCévennes mountain range.[1] In its upper course it is also referred to asGardon de Saint-Martin. From its furthest source, that of itstributary "Gardon de Saint-Jean", it is 133 km long. It flows into theRhône (right-side tributary) atComps, north ofBeaucaire, across fromVallabrègues.
TheRoman aqueductPont du Gard and the 16th-centuryPont Saint-Nicolas are two historic bridges that cross the Gardon. TheGorges du Gardon, which ends at Pont Saint-Nicolas, is a popular recreation area forkayaking,canoeing,rock climbing, andhiking.
The village ofCollias, 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.
In September 2002 and again in December 2003, the Gardon had record levelfloods 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.
La Grand-Combe andAlès are situated on theGardon d'Alès, the major left tributary.
