Garonne
The Garonne (/ɡəˈrɒn, ɡæˈ-/, also US: /ɡɑːˈrɔːn/, French: [ɡaʁɔn]; Occitan, Catalan, Basque, and Spanish: Garona, Occitan pronunciation: [ɡaˈrunɔ]; Latin: Garumna or Garunna) is a river that flows in southwest France and northern Spain. It flows from the central Spanish Pyrenees to the Gironde estuary at the French port of Bordeaux – a length of 529 km (329 mi), of which 47 km (29 mi) is in Spain (Val d'Aran); the total length extends to 602 km (374 mi) if one includes the Gironde estuary between the river and the sea. Its basin area is 56,000 km2 (22,000 sq mi), which increases to 84,811 km2 (32,746 sq mi) if the Dordogne River, which flows from the east and joins the Garonne at Bec d'Ambès to form the Gironde estuary, is included.
| Garonne | |
|---|---|
The Garonne at Bordeaux | |
Map of the Garonne River watershed | |
| Native name | Garona (Occitan) |
| Location | |
| Countries | France and Spain |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Pyrenees |
| • location | Alt Àneu, Catalonia, Spain |
| • coordinates | 42°36′26″N 0°57′56″E |
| • elevation | 2,600 m (8,500 ft) |
| Mouth | Gironde estuary, Atlantic Ocean |
• location | Bayon-sur-Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France |
• coordinates | 45°2′29″N 0°36′24″W |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 529 km (329 mi) |
| Basin size | 56,000 km2 (22,000 sq mi), or including Dordogne: 84,811 km2 (32,746 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 650 m3/s (23,000 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Gironde estuary→ Atlantic Ocean |
Umayyad and Aquitanian forces fought the Battle of the River Garonne in 732 beside the river near present-day Bordeaux.