Ardèche River
Encyclopedia
The Ardèche is a 125 km long river
in south-central France
, a right-bank tributary
of the Rhône River
. Its source is in the Massif Central
, near the village of Astet
. It flows into the Rhône near Pont-Saint-Esprit
, north-west of Orange. The river gives its name to the French department of Ardèche
.
The valley of the Ardèche is very scenic, in particular a 30km section known as the Ardèche Gorges. The walls of the river here are limestone
cliff
s up to 300m high. A kayak
and camping trip down the gorge is not technically difficult and hugely popular in the summer. The most famous feature is a natural 60m stone arch spanning the river known as the Pont d'Arc
(arch bridge).
of the Ardèche River include:
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in south-central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, a right-bank tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Rhône River
Rhône River
The Rhone is one of the major rivers of Europe, rising in Switzerland and running from there through southeastern France. At Arles, near its mouth on the Mediterranean Sea, the river divides into two branches, known as the Great Rhone and the Little Rhone...
. Its source is in the Massif Central
Massif Central
The Massif Central is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaux....
, near the village of Astet
Astet
Astet is a commune of the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-External links:*...
. It flows into the Rhône near Pont-Saint-Esprit
Pont-Saint-Esprit
Pont-Saint-Esprit is a commune in the Gard département in southern France. It is situated on the Rhône River and is the site of a historical crossing, hence its name...
, north-west of Orange. The river gives its name to the French department of Ardèche
Ardèche
Ardèche is a department in south-central France named after the Ardèche River.- History :The area has been inhabited by humans at least since the Upper Paleolithic, as attested by the famous cave paintings at Chauvet Pont d'Arc. The plateau of the Ardeche River has extensive standing stones ,...
.
The valley of the Ardèche is very scenic, in particular a 30km section known as the Ardèche Gorges. The walls of the river here are limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
cliff
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
s up to 300m high. A kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
and camping trip down the gorge is not technically difficult and hugely popular in the summer. The most famous feature is a natural 60m stone arch spanning the river known as the Pont d'Arc
Pont d'Arc
The Pont d'Arc is a large natural bridge, located in the Ardèche département in the south of France, near the town of Vallon-Pont-d'Arc....
(arch bridge).
Towns along the river
The Ardèche flows through the following departments and towns:- ArdècheArdècheArdèche is a department in south-central France named after the Ardèche River.- History :The area has been inhabited by humans at least since the Upper Paleolithic, as attested by the famous cave paintings at Chauvet Pont d'Arc. The plateau of the Ardeche River has extensive standing stones ,...
(named after the river): AstetAstetAstet is a commune of the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-External links:*...
, Vals-les-BainsVals-les-BainsVals-les-Bains is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, AubenasAubenasAubenas is a commune in the southern part of the Ardèche department in the Rhône Valley in southern France.It is the seat of several government offices...
, RuomsRuomsRuoms is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Vallon-Pont-d'ArcVallon-Pont-d'ArcVallon-Pont-d'Arc is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.Vallon-Pont-d'Arc is a capital of prehistoric and cultural tourism. This small village, peaceful in wintertime, sees its population expand ten-fold in summer...
, Saint-Martin-d'ArdècheSaint-Martin-d'ArdècheSaint-Martin-d'Ardèche is a commune in the department of Ardèche in southern France.Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche is situated at the southern entrance of the Ardèche Canyon, the Gorges de l'Ardèche.-Administration:... - LozèreLozèreLozère , is a department in southeast France near the Massif Central, named after Mont Lozère.- History :Lozère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
- GardGardGard is a département located in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.The department is named after the River Gard, although the formerly Occitan name of the River Gard, Gardon, has been replacing the traditional French name in recent decades, even among French speakers.- History...
: Pont-Saint-EspritPont-Saint-EspritPont-Saint-Esprit is a commune in the Gard département in southern France. It is situated on the Rhône River and is the site of a historical crossing, hence its name...
.
Tributaries
TributariesTributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Ardèche River include:
- AuzonAuzonAuzon is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France....
- Ligne
- LignonLignon (Ardèche)The Lignon is a long river in the Ardèche département, southern France. Its source is at La Souche, in the Parc naturel régional des Monts d'Ardèche. It flows generally east-northeast...
- BeaumeBeaume-Several communes in France:*La Beaume, arrondissement of Gap, Hautes-Alpes*La Haute-Beaume, arrondissement of Gap, Hautes-Alpes*Beaumes-de-Venise, a canton of the Arrondissement of Carpentras, Vaucluse *Beaumettes, also a canton of Carpentras.*Beaumé, a commune in the...
- ChassezacChassezacThe Chassezac is an long river in the Lozère, Gard and Ardèche départements, southern France, right tributary of the Ardèche. Its source is in the commune of Saint-Frézal-d'Albuges, km northeast of Les Chazeaux, main hamlet in the commune...
- IbieIbieThe Ibie is a long river in the Ardèche département, southeastern France. Its source is at Saint-Jean-le-Centenier, south of the village. It flows generally south-southwest, through the northern part of the Côtes du Vivarais AOC...