Geography: Rivers and Lakes in the Languedoc: The Rhône (French Rhône, Occitan Ròse, Provençal Roun)

The River Rhône is one of the major rivers of Europe, rising in Switzerland and running through France into the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhône is famous for its strong current when the river carries large quantities of water: current speeds up to 10 kilometers per hour are sometimes reached, particularly in the stretch below the last lock at Valabrègues and in some of the diversion canals.

The word "Rhône" comes from Latin Rhodanus, which itself comes from ancient Greek Rhodanos, the Greek rendering of the Gaulish (Celtic) name of the river, as heard by the Greeks living in the colony of Massalia (Marseille). The Celtic name of the river, Rodo or Roto, literally "that which rolls", or "that which runs", is a frequent name of rivers among the Celts.

The river rises near the Rhône Glacier in Valais, Switzerland, in the Saint-Gotthard massif, at an altitude of 1753 meters. Up to Martigny, it is a torrent; it then becomes a large mountain river running Southwest through a glacier valley. It turns Northwest to leave the Alps and then flows west through Lake Geneva before entering France.

At Arles the Rhône divides into two arms with all branches flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. One arm is called the "Grand Rhône", the other one is the "Petit Rhône". Between them and the sea is the river delta, known as the Camargue, home to a unique range of wildlife including Camargue Bulls and Camargue Horses

The Rhône is an important route for inland navigation, connecting the industrial cities of Arles, Avignon, Valence, Vienne and Lyon to the Mediterranean Sea ports of Fos, Marseille and Sète. The Rhône is developed as a class V waterway from the mouth of the Saône to the sea. The Saône river, which is also canalized, connects the Rhône ports to the cities of Villefranche, Macon and Chalons. Smaller vessels (up to CEMT class I) can travel further North-West, North and North-East via the Centre-Loire-Briare and Loing Canals to the Seine river, via the Canal de la Marne à la Saône (often called the "Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne") to the Marne, via the Canal des Vosges (formerly the "Canal de l'Est - Branche Sud" to the Moselle and via the Canal du Rhône au Rhin to the Rhine.

The Rhône valley is responsible for funneling the famous Mistral wind into the Camargue and Provence. Lesser winds traveling the same route and drying any precipitation are responsible for the conditions favourable to wine making. It was also down this great river valley that the French swept in 1208 to wreak havoc on the people of the Languedoc and persecute the Cathars, and later to create the Inquisition and to annex the Languedoc to France.

Tributaries

• Aigues
• Ain River (R), near Pont-de-Chéruy
• Ardèche River (R), near Pont-Saint-Esprit
• Arve River (L)
• Drôme River (L), near Loriol-sur-Drôme
• Durance River (L), near Avignon
• Gard River (or Gardon) (R), at Beaucaire
• Isère River (L), in Pont-de-l'Isère
• Ouvèze
• Saône (R), in Lyon

The river has been a trade route since prehistoric times, helping to link Northern Europe to the Mediterranean Sea. Though not the longest, the Rhône is the fastest and most powerful river in France. An average of 1800 m3/s of water pours into the Mediterranean Sea at its delta. This puts it at number 48 in the world ranking. However, heavy rain can cause the river to swell to dangerous proportions. For example, the rate was 11,000 m3/s at Beaucaire in January 1994.

French Cities and towns along the River Rhône include:

 

Click on the following external links for Great River Water Cruises on the Rhône and Tourist information about the Camargue at the mouth of the Rhône.