The Tarn (French pronunciation:[taʁn]ⓘ; Occitan: Tarn, Latin: Tarnis, possibly meaning 'rapid' or 'walled in') is a 380.2-kilometre (236.2 mi) long river in the administrative region of Occitania in southern France. It is a right tributary of the Garonne.[1]
The Tarn runs in a roughly westerly direction, from its source at an elevation of 1,550 m (5,090 ft) on Mont Lozère in the Cévennes mountains (part of the Massif Central), through the deep gorges and canyons of the Gorges du Tarn that cuts through the Causse du Larzac, to Moissac in Tarn-et-Garonne, where it joins the Garonne, 4 km (2.5 mi) downstream from the centre of town.
Its basin covers approximately 12,000 square kilometres (4,600 sq mi), and it has a mean flow of approximately 140 cubic metres per second (4,900 cu ft/s).
The Millau Viaduct spans the valley of the Tarn near Millau, and is now one of the area's most popular attractions.
The Millau Viaduct, the tallest bridge in the world, carrying the A75 autoroute across the Tarn Gorge near Millau, opened in December 2004.
The Tarn is famous for its brutal floods, which are the most dangerous in Europe along with the Danube. The floods of March 1930 saw the Tarn rise more than 17 metres (56 feet) above its normal level in Montauban in just 24 hours, with a discharge of 7,000 cubic metres per second (250,000 cu ft/s) (the average discharge of the Rhine is 2,200 cubic metres per second (78,000 cu ft/s); the average discharge of the Nile during the traditional annual flooding before the building of the Aswan Dam was 8,500 cubic metres per second (300,000 cu ft/s); the average discharge of the Mississippi River is 16,200 cubic metres per second (570,000 cu ft/s)). One third of the Tarn-et-Garonne department was flooded, about 300 people died, thousands of houses were destroyed, the low-lying districts of Montauban were destroyed, and the town of Moissac was almost entirely destroyed.
Navigationedit
Tarn gorge, seen from the point sublime
The Tarn was once navigable from its junction with the Garonne to Corbarieu, near Montauban. This stretch of river included seven river locks over a distance of 38 kilometres (24 mi). The canal was linked to the Canal de Garonne in Moissac by a branch lock upstream of the first river lock, and again, via the Canal de Montech, at Montauban.[2]
The two access points from the Canal de Garonne have both been restored, and boats can again access the immediate reaches of the river at these points. Additionally the first river lock, between Moissac and the Garonne itself, has been flooded by the barrage for the Golfech power station on the Garonne, and is permanently open to boats which can thus reach the Garonne and navigate a short distance of that river.[2]
The remaining six river locks are disused and unnavigable. A proposal exists to restore the five river locks between Moissac and Montauban, thus creating a waterway ring consisting of the Tarn from Moissac to Montauban, the Canal de Montech to Montech and the Canal de Garonne back to Moissac.[2]
tarn, river, tarn, french, pronunciation, taʁn, occitan, tarn, latin, tarnis, possibly, meaning, rapid, walled, kilometre, long, river, administrative, region, occitania, southern, france, right, tributary, garonne, tarnthe, tarn, saint, chély, tarn, gorges, t. The Tarn French pronunciation taʁn Occitan Tarn Latin Tarnis possibly meaning rapid or walled in is a 380 2 kilometre 236 2 mi long river in the administrative region of Occitania in southern France It is a right tributary of the Garonne 1 TarnThe Tarn in Saint Chely du Tarn Gorges du Tarn CaussesPath of the Tarn 1 LocationCountryFrancePhysical characteristicsSourceMont Lozere locationCevennes France coordinates44 24 53 N 3 48 54 E 44 41472 N 3 81500 E 44 41472 3 81500 elevation1 550 m 5 090 ft MouthGaronne locationMoissac France coordinates44 05 10 N 1 02 33 E 44 086111 N 1 0425 E 44 086111 1 0425Length380 km 240 mi Basin size15 700 km2 6 100 sq mi Discharge average140 m3 s 4 900 cu ft s Basin featuresProgressionGaronne Gironde estuary Atlantic Ocean The Tarn runs in a roughly westerly direction from its source at an elevation of 1 550 m 5 090 ft on Mont Lozere in the Cevennes mountains part of the Massif Central through the deep gorges and canyons of the Gorges du Tarn that cuts through the Causse du Larzac to Moissac in Tarn et Garonne where it joins the Garonne 4 km 2 5 mi downstream from the centre of town Its basin covers approximately 12 000 square kilometres 4 600 sq mi and it has a mean flow of approximately 140 cubic metres per second 4 900 cu ft s The Millau Viaduct spans the valley of the Tarn near Millau and is now one of the area s most popular attractions Contents 1 Main tributaries 2 Departments and cities 3 Navigation 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksMain tributaries editThe tributaries of the Tarn include Agout in Saint Sulpice Alrance Aveyron near Montauban Cernon Dourbie in Millau Dourdou de Camares Jonte in Le Rozier Lemboulas Lumensonesque Muze Rance near Trebas Tarnon in Florac Tescou The Tarn separates the Narbonne and Aquitaine basins Departments and cities edit nbsp A boatman with some tourists begins a ride through the Gorges du Tarn The Tarn passes through the following departments and towns Lozere Le Pont de Montvert Sainte Enimie Aveyron Millau Tarn Albi Gaillac Lisle sur Tarn Rabastens Haute Garonne Villemur sur Tarn Tarn et Garonne Montauban Moissac The Millau Viaduct the tallest bridge in the world carrying the A75 autoroute across the Tarn Gorge near Millau opened in December 2004 The Tarn is famous for its brutal floods which are the most dangerous in Europe along with the Danube The floods of March 1930 saw the Tarn rise more than 17 metres 56 feet above its normal level in Montauban in just 24 hours with a discharge of 7 000 cubic metres per second 250 000 cu ft s the average discharge of the Rhine is 2 200 cubic metres per second 78 000 cu ft s the average discharge of the Nile during the traditional annual flooding before the building of the Aswan Dam was 8 500 cubic metres per second 300 000 cu ft s the average discharge of the Mississippi River is 16 200 cubic metres per second 570 000 cu ft s One third of the Tarn et Garonne department was flooded about 300 people died thousands of houses were destroyed the low lying districts of Montauban were destroyed and the town of Moissac was almost entirely destroyed Navigation edit nbsp Tarn gorge seen from the point sublime The Tarn was once navigable from its junction with the Garonne to Corbarieu near Montauban This stretch of river included seven river locks over a distance of 38 kilometres 24 mi The canal was linked to the Canal de Garonne in Moissac by a branch lock upstream of the first river lock and again via the Canal de Montech at Montauban 2 The two access points from the Canal de Garonne have both been restored and boats can again access the immediate reaches of the river at these points Additionally the first river lock between Moissac and the Garonne itself has been flooded by the barrage for the Golfech power station on the Garonne and is permanently open to boats which can thus reach the Garonne and navigate a short distance of that river 2 The remaining six river locks are disused and unnavigable A proposal exists to restore the five river locks between Moissac and Montauban thus creating a waterway ring consisting of the Tarn from Moissac to Montauban the Canal de Montech to Montech and the Canal de Garonne back to Moissac 2 See also editGorges du Tarn Tourism in TarnReferences edit Sandre Fiche cours d eau Le Tarn O 0100 a b c River Tarn and the Tarn Ring grehanman guides Retrieved 2010 11 22 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tarn River French Waterways River Tarn Navigation guide to the lower 40 kilometres 25 mi http www gorgesdutarn net lang en Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tarn river amp oldid 1070711076, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
