| Dordogne | |
|---|---|
The Dordogne in Périgord. |
|
| Origin | Massif Central |
| Mouth | Garonne |
| Basin countries | France |
| Length | 483 km |
| Source elevation | 1,720 m |
| Avg. discharge | 450 m³/s |
| Basin area | 23,870 km² |
The Dordogne (Occitan: Dordonha) is a river in south-central and southwest France.
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Contrary to appearances, the name of the Dordogne is not a recent word[1] resulting from the names of the Dore and the Dogne. It comes from an ancient Durānius,[2] dérived from a Pre-Celtic root dur-, dor- (as the Durance).
The medieval forms adopted a redoubled suffix -ononia[3] : Dorononia fluvius[4] (sixth century), Dornonia (eighth century) that evolves in Dordonia (ninth century) by a phenomenon of dissimilation, giving the impression of an etymology *Dore-Dogne.
The river rises on the flanks of Puy de Sancy (1 885 m) in the mountains of Auvergne, from the confluence of two small torrents above the town of Mont-Dore: the Dore[5] and the Dogne. It flows generally west about 500 km through the Limousin and Périgord regions before flowing into the Gironde, its common estuary with the Garonne, at the "Ambès beak", in the north of the city of Bordeaux.
The Dordogne is one of the few rivers in the world that exhibits the phenomenon known as a tidal bore.[6]
The upper valley of the Dordogne is a series of deep gorges. The cliffs, steep banks, fast flowing water and high bridges attract both walkers and drivers. In several places the river is dammed to form long, deep lakes. Camp sites and holiday homes have proliferated wherever the valley floor is wide enough to accommodate them
Below Argentat and around Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, the valley widens to accommodate fertile farmland, well-watered pasture and orchards. In the towns, which are major tourist attractions because of their history and architecture, the quaysides are lined with eating and drinking places. In Périgord, the valley widens further to encompass one of France's main gastronomic regions, with vineyards, poultry farms and truffle-rich woodlands.
The main season for tourism in the Valley of the Dordogne is from June to September with July and August being high season. The lifestyle and culture of the Dordogne valley attracts both visitors and incomers from all over France, but also from many other countries, particularly Britain and Germany.
The départements of France through which the Dordogne River runs, together with some towns in those départements that are on or quite near the River, are as follows:
Main tributaries from source to mouth:
N.B. : (R) = right tributary; (L) = left tributary
Aside from the usual activities such as tennis and golf available in many areas of France, there are a number of water-related activities related to the Dordogne River, including: