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The name derives fromGarumna, aLatinized version of theAquitanian name meaning "stony river" ("kar" relating to "stone" and "-ona" relating to "river").
TheUelh deth Garona at 1,862 metres (6,109 ft) abovesea level has been traditionally considered as the source of the Garonne. From this point a brook (called theBeret-Garona) runs for 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the bed of the mainupper Garonne valley. The river runs for another 38 kilometres (24 mi) to the French border atPont de Rei, 40.5 kilometres (25.2 mi) in total.
The Ratera-Saboredo cirque is the head of the upper Garonne valley, and its upper lake at 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) above sea level is the origin of the Ruda-Garona river, running for 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) to the confluence with the Beret-Garona brook and another 38 kilometres (24 mi) to the French border atPont del Rei, 54 kilometres (34 mi) in total. At the confluence, the Ruda-Garona carries 2.6 cubic metres per second (92 cu ft/s) of water.[5][6] The Ratera-Saboredo cirque is considered by many researchers to be the origin of the Garonne.[7][8][9][10]
The Main Lake of Saboredo and Pic de Saboredo, the head of the Garonne valley
The third theory holds that the river rises on the slopes of Pic Aneto at 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) above sea level and flows by way of asinkhole known as theForau de Aigualluts (42°40′00″N0°40′01″E / 42.6666°N 0.6669°E /42.6666; 0.6669) through thelimestone of the Tuca Blanca de Pomèro and a resurgence in the Val dera Artiga above the Aran Valley in the Spanish Pyrenees.[11] This underground route was suggested by the geologistRamond de Carbonnières in 1787 but there was no confirmation until 1931, whencaverNorbert Casteret pouredfluorescein dye into the flow and noted its emergence a few hours later 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away atUelhs deth Joèu ("Jove's eyes"42°40′51″N0°42′28″E / 42.68092°N 0.7077°E /42.68092; 0.7077) in the Artiga de Lin on the other side of the mountain.[12][13][14] From Aigualluts to the confluence with the main river at the bed of the upper Garonne valley at 800 metres (2,600 ft) above sea level, the Joèu has run for 12.4 kilometres (7.7 mi) (16 kilometres more to get to the French border), carrying 2.16 cubic metres per second (76 cu ft/s) of water, whilst the main river is carrying 17.7 cubic metres per second (630 cu ft/s).[5][6][15]
The water from Barrancs and Escaleta ravines disappears into the ground atForau de Aigualluts.
The Ratera-Saboredo cirque is the "most distant point (along watercourses from the river mouth) in the drainage basin from which water runs"[21][22] and the source of the Garonne, according to the United States Geological Survey, the National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Institution convention on determining a stream's source.
The Garonne follows the Aran Valley northwards into France, flowing viaToulouse andAgen towardsBordeaux, where it meets theGironde estuary. The Gironde flows into theAtlantic Ocean (Bay of Biscay). Along its course, the Garonne is joined by three other major rivers: theAriège, theTarn, and theLot. Just after Bordeaux, the Garonne meets theDordogne at theBec d'Ambès, forming the Gironde estuary, which after approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Other tributaries include theSave and theGers.
150° Panorama of the Aran Valley from the Beret Plateau, showing the Ruda-Garona and Beret-Garona confluence. InVielha the Garonne turns westward (out of sight), and after 12 kilometres (7 mi) receives water from the Joèu (Pic Aneto).
The Garonne is one of the few rivers in the world that exhibit atidal bore.[23][24][25] Surfers and jet skiers could ride the tidal bore at least as far as the village ofCambes, 120 kilometres (75 mi) from the Atlantic, and even further upstream toCadillac, although the tidal bore appears and disappears in response to changes in the channel bathymetry. In 2010 and 2012, some detailed field studies were conducted in the Garonne's Arcins channel betweenArcins Island and the right bank close to Lastrene township.[23] A striking feature of the field data sets was the large and rapid fluctuations in turbulent velocities and turbulent stresses during the tidal bore and flood flow.[24][25][26]
TheEuropean sea sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), also known as the Atlantic sturgeon or common sturgeon, is now aCritically Endangered species(IUCN) status.[27] This species of sturgeon can reach a length of 6 m (20 ft), weigh up to 400 kg (880 lb) and reach an age of 100 years.[28] Previously found on most coasts of Europe, it has now become so rare that it breeds only in the Garonne river basin in France.[27] Conservation projects are under way to save this fish fromextinction viaspecies reintroduction fromaquaculture, with the first releases having been made in 1995.[27]
The Garonne plays an important role in inland shipping. The river not only allows seagoing vessels to reach the port of Bordeaux but also forms part of theCanal des Deux Mers, linking theMediterranean Sea and theAtlantic Ocean.
Seagoing vessels may navigate as far inland as Bordeaux on the Garonne.
From the ocean, ships pass through theGironde estuary up to the mouth of the Garonne (to the right of the Dordogne when sailing upstream). Ships continue on the tidal river Garonne up to thePont de Pierre (stone bridge) in Bordeaux. Inland vessels continue upstream toCastets-en-Dorthe, where the Canal de Garonne joins the river. Prior to the building of the Canal lateral à la Garonne, between 1838 and 1856, shallow-draught boats used the Garonne itself as far asToulouse. However, navigation on the upper river was very uncertain, and this stretch of the river is no longer considerednavigable. Instead the lateral canal takes boats through 53locks to the town of Toulouse, where the canal meets theCanal du Midi.[29]
The upstream part of the river, upstream from Toulouse depends primarily on snow and snow melt. The lower/downstream part is rain fed as well as its main tributaries.
Aflood of the Garonne in 1930 broke the dike in Thivras (Marmande).
In Toulouse, the Garonne has been the cause of many floods, especially since its left bank is inhabited.
The earliest records of floods are from around 1177. It is also recorded to have flooded in 1220, 1258, 1430, 1523, 1536 and in 1589, 1608, 1658, 1673, 1675, 1709, 1712, 1727, 1750, 1772, 1788, 1804 and 1810. In 1772, the Garonne reached 8 meters 50.[31] In the recent centuries, in 1827, 1835, 1855 and 1856/7.
In Toulouse, in 1827, the water level of the Garonne rose four meters above the ordinary level and filled the arches of thePont de Pierre andPont Neuf.
In 1835, the Garonne rose to five meters above normal and 35 meters above the low water level and flowed through the four arcs of the Pont de Pierre.
Flood of the Garonne in 1835: 7,50 m at Toulouse Pont-Neuf
Flood of the Garonne in 1855: 7.25 m at Toulouse Pont-Neuf
Flood of the Garonne in 1875: 9,70 m to Toulouse Pont-Neuf (or 8m32 according to vigicrue).
Flood of the Garonne in 1879: 4,87 m at Toulouse Pont-Neuf
Flood of the Garonne in 1890: 3.30 m at Toulouse Pont-Neuf
Flood of the Garonne in 1900: 4,00 m in Toulouse Pont-Neuf
Flood of the Garonne in 1905: 4.24 m at Toulouse Pont-Neuf
Crete of 1927 in Aquitaine, particularly imposing after the confluence of the Garonne with the Lot (of which it remained raw reference), insignificant upstream18.
Flood of the Garonne in 1952: 4,57 m at Toulouse Pont-Neuf
Flood of the Garonne in 1977: 4,31 m in Toulouse Pont-Neuf
Flood of the Garonne in 2000: 4.38 m at Toulouse Pont-Neuf
Flood of the Garonne in 2004: 3,52 m at Toulouse Pont-Neuf
In 1777, the Garonne suffered an extraordinary flood to the point that the priest of Bourdelles took the trouble to retranscribe the event, at the end of the acts of the year, in the parish register of baptisms, marriages and deaths.
The "Garonne 2050" project, initiated by the Adour-Garonne water agency in 2010, aims to address the future challenges facing the Garonne River basin regarding its water resources. With an anticipated surge of an additional 1 million inhabitants by 2050, the basin confronts a demographic challenge. The study aims to inform stakeholders and devise an adaptation strategy within the local master plan of water management and development (SDAGE), considering the impact of the predicted demographic shifts.[32] Central to the "Garonne 2050" study is its examination of the Garonne River basin's agricultural sector. Detailed insights into changes in irrigated agricultural areas, crop rotation, and farm numbers are essential for informing effective water management strategies. Notably, the allocation of water volume to agriculture highlights a delicate balance between sustaining local economic activities and the necessity for agricultural adaptation amid decreasing water availability.[33]
^Soler i Santaló; La Vall d'Aran. Guía monográfica de la comarca; pág. 12. Barcelona, 1916.
^Faura i Sans (M.); Sobre hidrología subterránea en los Pirineos Centrales de Aragón y Cataluña. Bol. de la Real Soc. de Hist. Nat, vom. XVI, pgs. 353-354. Madrid, 1916.
^Reynolds, Kev (2001).Walks and Climbs in the Pyrenees. Milnthorpe, England: Cicerone Press. p. 208.ISBN978-1-85284-328-1.
^Casteret, Norbert (1939).Ten Years Under the Earth.Mussey, Barrows (trans). London: J. M. Dent.
^Mapa topogràfic de Catalunya 1:100 000 (Map) (1st ed.). Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya. § 1: Pirineu occidental.
^Lambert, Roger (1996). "A propos de la Garonne Supérieure".Géographie du cycle de l'eau (in French). Toulouse: Presses Universitaires du Mirail. p. 351.ISBN978-2-85816-273-4.prouvant péremptoirement que la Garonne a sa vrai source et la plus importante dans les Monts Maudits, sur le versant Sud des Pyrénées ('proving conclusively that the Garonne has its true source, and the most important, in the Monts Maudits, on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees')
^Astrié, Théophile (1875).Les drames de l'inondation à Toulouse / Théophile Astrié Éditeur : Éditeur : Librairie centrale (Toulouse) Date d'édition: 1875 gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5778575j. Librairie centrale (Toulouse): Arnaud et Labat (Paris).
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