The Drac (French pronunciation:[dʁak]) is a 130-kilometre (81 mi) long river in southeastern France.[1] It is a left tributary of the river Isère. It is formed at the confluence of the Drac Noir and the Drac Blanc, which both rise in the southern part of the Massif des Écrins, high in the French Alps. It flows through several reservoirs on its course, including the Lac de Monteynard-Avignonet. It flows into the Isère at Grenoble. Its major tributary is the Romanche.
The average flow of the Drac at Fontaine is 97 cubic metres per second (3,400 cu ft/s), with the highest monthly flows occurring in June, due to the melting of Alpine glaciers. The catchment area of the river is 3,599 square kilometres (1,390 sq mi),[2] which has an average rainfall of 859 millimetres (33.8 in).[3]
The name Drac, originally the Drau, is due to an attraction by the Occitandrac "imp", which is derived from the Latin dracō, meaning "Dragon". It is documented in the forms of Dracum (v. 1100), Dravus (1289) and the ribière dou Drau (1545). The word "Drac" means Dragon. In many legends the drac, in Occitan, is a genius of evil waters or a form of Satan that attracts children to drown.[4]Frédéric Mistral wrote in Félibrige Treasury:[4]
Drac of the Rhone was a winged monster and amphibian which carried on the body of a reptile the shoulders and the head of a beautiful young man. He lived the bottom of the river where he tried to attract, to devour it, the imprudent ones gained by the softness of its voice.
In December 1995, six children and their teacher were drowned in the river after the level of water rose due to the opening of the valves of a dam. They were there to see beavers. All of them died.[5]
Referencesedit
^Sandre. "Fiche cours d'eau - Le Drac (W2--0200)".
^Bassin versant : Drac (Le), Observatoire Régional Eau et Milieux Aquatiques en PACA
^ ab"Dragons - Entre sciences et fictions" (in French). www.lahic.cnrs.f. Archived from the original on 2013-01-06. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
^"Drame du Drac notre enquête" (in French). hebdo.nouvelobs.com. 21 December 1995. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Drac.
February 15, 2024
drac, river, drac, french, pronunciation, dʁak, kilometre, long, river, southeastern, france, left, tributary, river, isère, formed, confluence, drac, noir, drac, blanc, which, both, rise, southern, part, massif, Écrins, high, french, alps, flows, through, sev. The Drac French pronunciation dʁak is a 130 kilometre 81 mi long river in southeastern France 1 It is a left tributary of the river Isere It is formed at the confluence of the Drac Noir and the Drac Blanc which both rise in the southern part of the Massif des Ecrins high in the French Alps It flows through several reservoirs on its course including the Lac de Monteynard Avignonet It flows into the Isere at Grenoble Its major tributary is the Romanche DracConfluence of the Drac with the Isere in GrenobleLocationCountryFrancePhysical characteristicsSource locationMassif des EcrinsMouth locationIsere coordinates45 12 55 N 5 40 31 E 45 21528 N 5 67528 E 45 21528 5 67528Length130 km 81 mi Basin size3 599 km2 1 390 sq mi Discharge average97 m3 s 3 400 cu ft s Basin featuresProgressionIsere Rhone Mediterranean SeaThe Drac flows through the following departments and towns Hautes Alpes Saint Bonnet en Champsaur Isere Corps GrenobleThe average flow of the Drac at Fontaine is 97 cubic metres per second 3 400 cu ft s with the highest monthly flows occurring in June due to the melting of Alpine glaciers The catchment area of the river is 3 599 square kilometres 1 390 sq mi 2 which has an average rainfall of 859 millimetres 33 8 in 3 The name Drac originally the Drau is due to an attraction by the Occitan drac imp which is derived from the Latin dracō meaning Dragon It is documented in the forms of Dracum v 1100 Dravus 1289 and the ribiere dou Drau 1545 The word Drac means Dragon In many legends the drac in Occitan is a genius of evil waters or a form of Satan that attracts children to drown 4 Frederic Mistral wrote in Felibrige Treasury 4 Drac of the Rhone was a winged monster and amphibian which carried on the body of a reptile the shoulders and the head of a beautiful young man He lived the bottom of the river where he tried to attract to devour it the imprudent ones gained by the softness of its voice In December 1995 six children and their teacher were drowned in the river after the level of water rose due to the opening of the valves of a dam They were there to see beavers All of them died 5 References edit Sandre Fiche cours d eau Le Drac W2 0200 Bassin versant Drac Le Observatoire Regional Eau et Milieux Aquatiques en PACA Drac at Fontaine Archived December 15 2014 at the Wayback Machine a b Dragons Entre sciences et fictions in French www lahic cnrs f Archived from the original on 2013 01 06 Retrieved 2009 03 04 Drame du Drac notre enquete in French hebdo nouvelobs com 21 December 1995 Retrieved 2009 03 04 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Drac Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Drac river amp oldid 1078320238, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
