Vézère

river in France

The Vézère (Occitan: Vesera) is a river of southwestern France that flows through the Corrèze and Dordogne, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It is a right tributary of the Dordogne river.

Vézère
Le Saillant, bridge over the river Vézère
Location
CountryFrance
Physical characteristics
Source 
 - locationPlateau de Millevaches
 - elevation970 m (3,180 ft)
Mouth 
 - locationDordogne
 - coordinates44°52′53″N 0°53′26″E / 44.88139°N 0.89056°E / 44.88139; 0.89056
Length211 km (131 mi)
Basin size3,708 km2 (1,432 sq mi)
Discharge 
 - average50 m3/s (1,800 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionDordogneGironde estuaryAtlantic Ocean

The valley of the Vézère river is known for its prehistoric cave systems, with numerous cave paintings. UNESCO collectively designated these as a World Heritage Site in 1979.

Geography

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The Vézère has a length of 211.2 km (131.2 mi), and a drainage basin with an area of approximately 9,656 km2 (3,728 sq mi).[1]

Its average yearly discharge (volume of water which passes through a section of the river per unit of time) is 57.7 m3/s (2,040 cu ft/s) at Campagne in the Dordogne department.[2]

Average monthly discharge (m3/s) at Campagne (1968-2017)[2]

Course

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The Vézère starts in the Plateau de Millevaches, part of the Massif Central, in the commune of Meymac, Corrèze department, at an elevation of about 900 m (2,953 ft).[3]

It flows generally southwest through the Corrèze and Dordogne departments before flowing into the Dordogne river in Limeuil at about 5 m (16 ft) of altitude.[4]

The Vézère flows through 1 region, 2 departments and 53 communes.[1] The main communes are:

Main tributaries

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The main tributaries (more than 20 km long) of the Vézère river are:

  • Left tributaries
  • Right tributaries
    • Soudaine - 25.8 km;[8]
    • Bradascou - 33 km;[9]
    • Loyre - 45.3 km;[10]
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References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 "La Vézère (P---0100)" (in French). SANDRE - Portail national d'accès aux référentiels sur l'eau. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "La Vézère à Campagne" (in French). Banque Hydro. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  3. "Sources de la Vézère" (in French). Géoportail. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  4. "Confluence de la Vézère" (in French). Géoportail. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  5. "Rivière d'Ars (P3010530)" (in French). SANDRE - Portail national d'accès aux référentiels sur l'eau. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  6. "Le Brézou (P31-0430)" (in French). SANDRE - Portail national d'accès aux référentiels sur l'eau. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  7. "La Corrèze (P3--0250)" (in French). SANDRE - Portail national d'accès aux référentiels sur l'eau. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  8. "La Soudaine (P30-0400)" (in French). SANDRE - Portail national d'accès aux référentiels sur l'eau. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  9. "Le Bradascou (P31-0400)" (in French). SANDRE - Portail national d'accès aux référentiels sur l'eau. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  10. "La Loyre (P32-0400)" (in French). SANDRE - Portail national d'accès aux référentiels sur l'eau. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.

Other websites

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