is a river in south-western France (Limousin, Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrénées, Auvergne). Its total length is 483 km. Its catchment area is 23 957 km². Since 11 July 2012, the entire river basin has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Geography
The river begins at an altitude of 1,885 m on the slopes of Puy de Sancy. It is formed by the confluence of two streams: Dore and Dogne.
Dordogne flows 500km west to Gironde estuary shared with Garonne, north of Bordeaux.
Nature
The Dordogne is one of the few rivers in the world on which the phenomenon of tidal holes, known as mascaret, occurs.
The upper part of the river valley is made up of a series of deep gorges. Rocks, steep banks, fast flowing water and high bridges attract hikers and drivers. Wherever the valley floor is wide enough, campsites and holiday homes have proliferated.
Below Argentat and around Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, the valley is widening to provide fertile farmland, well-watered pastures and orchards. In Périgord, the valley widens further to include one of the main gastronomic areas of France, with vineyards, poultry farms and forests rich in truffles.
The culture of the Dordogne Valley attracts visitors from all over France, as well as from many other countries, especially the UK and Germany.
Environment
„The ‚Dordogne‘ is a Natura site designated for the departments of Dordogne and Gironde and covers 104 communes along the Dordogne river from its entrance to the Périgord at Cazoulès to its confluence with the Garonne between Ambès and Saint-Seurin-de-Bourg, where it forms the Gironde estuary.
On the upper reaches of the river, there is another nature site, the ‚Dordogne Quercynoise‘, which covers 5 567 hectares and only 20 municipalities in the Lot department along the Dordogne.
History
Dordogne department created during French Revolution in 1790.
