Durance

Durance
A view of the Durance south of Cavaillon with the LGV Méditerranée viaduct
Location
Country	France
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Cottian Alps
• elevation	2,300 m (7,500 ft)
Mouth
• location	Rhône
• coordinates	43°55′21″N 4°44′35″E / 43.92250°N 4.74306°E / 43.92250; 4.74306
Length	323 km (201 mi)[1]
Basin size	14,472 km2 (5,588 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	188 m3/s (6,600 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Rhône→ Mediterranean Sea

The Durance (French pronunciation: [dyʁɑ̃s]; Durença in the Occitan classical norm or Durènço in the Mistralian norm) is a major river in Southeastern France. A left tributary of the Rhône, it is 323.2 km (200.8 mi) long.^[1] Its drainage basin is 14,472 km² (5,588 sq mi).^[2]

Its source is in the southwestern part of the Alps, in the Montgenèvre ski resort near Briançon; it flows southwest through the following departments and cities:

• Hautes-Alpes: Briançon, Embrun.
• Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: Sisteron, Manosque.
• Vaucluse: Cavaillon, Avignon.
• Bouches-du-Rhône.

The Durance's largest tributary is the Verdon.^[1] The Durance itself is a tributary of the Rhône and flows into the Rhône near Avignon. The Durance is the second longest (after the Saône) of the tributaries of the Rhône and the third largest in terms of its flow (after the Saône and Isère).