Verdon (river)

The Verdon is a 166.5 km river in Southeastern France, left tributary of the Durance. Its drainage basin is 2295 km2. The Verdon is best known for its impressive canyon: the Verdon Gorge. This limestone canyon, also called the "Grand Canyon of Verdon", 20 km long and more than 300 m deep, is a popular climbing and sight-seeing area. The name comes from the green appearance of the waters of the river, in the canyon.

Course
Its source is at an elevation of 2819 m, in the southwestern part of the French Alps (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), between the Col d'Allos and the Trois Évêchés mountain, south of Barcelonnette. It flows southwest through the following departments and towns:


 * Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: Allos, Colmars, Saint-André-les-Alpes, Castellane
 * Var: Vinon-sur-Verdon

The Verdon flows through several artificial lakes, before flowing into the river Durance near Vinon-sur-Verdon, south of Manosque.

Its main tributaries are the Artuby, Colostre, Jabron and Issole.