RIVER RHONE

Location: 45N 5E (Switzerland/France); length 800 kilometres (500 miles); drainage basin: 135,000 square kilometres (53,000 square miles).

The Rhone basin.

The River Rhone is one of the major rivers in western Europe, flowing from the Rhone glacier in the Alps through Lake Geneva to southern France and the Mediterranean Sea.

The headwaters of the Rhone flow through the deep glaciated valleys of the Maritime Alps. From here they emerge in the Central Lowlands of Switzerland and flow into Lake Geneva. Below Lake Geneva the river again flows in a steep-sided valley, making the course completely unnavigable above Lyon.

The Saone is the major tributary of the Rhone; at the confluence of the two rivers lies the city of Lyon. It is possible for barges to reach Lyon from the Mediterranean Sea (where they can connect to other canals in France), but the fast flowing river and numerous locks mean that traffic remains light.

The main human use of the river is for generating hydroelectric power and irrigation. Numerous power plants and barrages have been built across the river's natural course. Some of the largest include the barrage at Genissiat, just below Geneva and the Donzere-Mondragon scheme on the lower Rhone.

In its lower reaches the Rhone flows through a rift valley, so that its valley is flat floored. This section, called the Rhone 'corridor', provides a vital link between the Mediterranean Sea and the industrial regions of northwest Europe. The whole of the Rhone Valley is also an important wine producing and tourist destination.

The Rhone Delta, a vast natural marshland, includes the Camargue region with its many wild birds and its famous wild horses.

The marshy land of the delta makes settlement very difficult and the nearest city, Marseille, is over 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the delta. In recent times the ports of Fos and Lavera have been built on the delta to act as a focus for the development of heavy industry in the south of France.

The famous Belvedere Hotel overlooking the Rhone Glacier, the source of the River Rhone.

The ancient bridge at Avignon, now partly collapsed. The source of the song "Sur le pont, d'Avignon...".