Verdon

Verdon, river, tributary of the River Durance, southern France. It is 177 km (110 mi) long, and flows south-westward until it reaches Castellane, Provence, when its course is generally westward. On its way to Castellane it has cut a deep valley through one of the wilder parts of the Provençal mountains. Below Castellane it flows through a gorge cutting through white limestone, which is a tourist attraction. The gorge is about 20 km (13 mi) long, and varies in depth from 240 to 700 m (800 to 2,300 ft). The Verdon has been dammed to trap water for the generation of hydroelectricity (see Water-Power) at Castillon and Chaudanne. Few towns lie on its banks.