In the list of the largest and most beautiful water streams in France and Spain, the Garonne River is not the last. In this material, we will get to know her a little closer, her geographical location, historical facts, ancient cities located in her valley.
General characteristics
The first factual data of interest to an ordinary tourist is the length of the water source. It is 647 kilometers, and the basin area is about 56 thousand km². The Garonne River managed to locate its history and mouth on the territory of two states - Spain (124 km) and France (523 km).
The beginning of the river should be looked for in the Pyrenees, at an altitude of 1872 meters above sea level, the Catalans can watch how it becomes wider and fuller. The meeting point with the oceans should be sought where the Bay of Biscay is located. This is already France, where the river flows through the regions of New Aquitaine and Occitania.
Geographic data of Garonne
It is clear that, starting in the mountains, it occupies a narrow deep valley, characterized by a steepfall. In the French territories, the Garonne river becomes calmer, wider - now it is a water source typical of the European plains.
Having reached the city of Bordeaux, the river occupies a valley, the width of which reaches half a kilometer. Approaching the Bay of Biscay, it joins the Dordogne River, and together they form the Gironde Estuary. Its length is 75 kilometers. Hydrologists call the two main sources of food for the Garonne - rain (occupies a predominant place), snow (due to the melting of snow lying in the mountains).
There are seasonal fluctuations in the water level, they occur in spring and winter, associated with a sharp melting of snow or heavy rains. The flow of water begins to decrease in May, reaching a minimum by July. By October, the water level rises again, fluctuations are possible at other times, but are short-lived. The largest flood occurred in 1930 at Mas d'Aguenay, in 1875 at the confluence with the Tarn.
Navigation on the Garonne
In Spain, the Garonne River is not navigable, in France - partially. About 190 kilometers can pass from the mouth of the court, to Langon. Several points are important. The first one is that sea vessels can also pass along the river to the city of Bordeaux, so the water source plays an important role in the country's transport system. River traffic along the Garonne after Bordeaux is associated exclusively with river tourism.
The second important point is that the Garonne is part of the French water system, thanks to which the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Biscay are interconnected. Previously, timber was rafted along it,transported goods, today the river is used in hydropower, not so long ago two nuclear power plants were built in its vicinity.
Major tributaries and cities
The Garonne River has many large and small tributaries, among the main ones are Ariège, Sav, Gers, Baise, Tarn, Lo. Ariège also begins in the Pyrenees, flows into the Garonne before Toulouse. In the next section, to Bordeaux, the source is fed by the main tributaries - the Lot and the Tarn, which are part of the hydrological system of the Massif Central.
The largest French cities located in the Garonne Valley are Toulouse and Bordeaux. The old part of Toulouse is pressed against the high bank, it was here that the first settlements appeared during the Middle Ages. Tourists call this city "pink", because since ancient times, bricks of a pinkish hue have been used here for construction. In the historical part, many religious buildings have been preserved, since Toulouse was once a religious center.
Even more popular with tourists is Bordeaux, located on both banks of the Garonne. Its main attraction is the port of the moon. It is located in a beautiful bow of the river. On the left bank there is a historical quarter with the main architectural gems, it is included in the UNESCO list. Bordeaux is also known as the center of winemaking.
Plant and animal life
Many tourists wonder where the Garonne river is to go fishing. Local fishermen report that 8 species of fish live in this water source. The most valuable are -sturgeon, eel, river and sea lamprey, sea trout and Atlantic salmon.
Unfortunately, rapid industrial production in the river valley has caused significant damage to its ecosystem. Among the negative factors are the construction of dams, intensive dumping of industrial waste, water pollution. Currently, the joint efforts of ecologists, the state and private entrepreneurs are taking measures to restore the purity of the river and its surroundings.
