Editing Gardon

{{short description|River in southern France}}
{{for multi|the French footballer|Bernard Gardon|the Transylvanian musical instrument|Ütőgardon}}

{{Infobox river
| name              = Gardon
| image             = Pont Du Gard2.jpg
| image_caption     = The Gardon near the [[Pont du Gard]]
| map               = Gardon (rivière).png
| map_size = 280px
| source1_location  = [[Cévennes]] 
| mouth             = [[Rhône]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|43|51|6|N|4|36|54|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| progression       = {{RRhône}}
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[France]]
| length            = {{convert|133|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| source1_elevation = 
| discharge1_avg    = {{convert|32|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| basin_size        = {{convert|2200|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left  = [[Gardon d'Alès]]
}}
[[File:Pont du Gard 3.jpg|thumb|[[Pont du Gard]]]]
[[File:FR-30-Anduze3.JPG|thumb|The Gardon in [[Anduze]]]]
[[File:En premier plan le Gardon et en arrière plan le Rhône près de Comps.JPG|thumb|Confluence of the Gardon and the [[Rhône]] at [[Comps, Gard|Comps]]]]
The '''Gardon''' or '''Gard''' ([[Occitan language|Occitan]] and [[French language|French]]: ''Gardon, Gard'', {{IPA|fr|ɡaʁdɔ̃|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Benoît Prieur-Gardon.wav}}, {{IPA|fr|ɡaʁ||Fr-Paris--Gard.ogg}}) is a [[List of rivers of France|river]] in southern [[France]]. It is the namesake of the [[Departments of France|department]] of [[Gard]]. Several of its tributaries are also called ''Gardon''. It is {{convert|127.6|km|mi|abbr=on}} long, and takes its source in the commune of [[Saint-Martin-de-Lansuscle]], in the [[Cévennes]] mountain range.<ref name=sandre>{{sandre|id=V71-0400|nom=Le Gard}}</ref> In its upper course it is also referred to as ''Gardon de Saint-Martin''. From its furthest source, that of its [[tributary]] "[[Gardon de Saint-Jean]]", it is 133 km long. It flows into the [[Rhône]] (right-side tributary) at [[Comps, Gard|Comps]], north of [[Beaucaire, Gard|Beaucaire]], across from [[Vallabrègues]].

==Features==
The [[Roman aqueduct]] [[Pont du Gard]] and the 16th-century [[Saint-Nicolas-de-Campagnac Bridge|Pont Saint-Nicolas]] are two historic bridges that cross the Gardon. The [[Gorges du Gardon]], which ends at Pont Saint-Nicolas, is a popular recreation area for [[kayaking]], [[canoeing]], [[rock climbing]], and [[hiking]].

The village of [[Collias]], approximately {{convert|12|km|mi|0}} downriver from the Pont Saint-Nicolas, has several kayak and canoe rental agencies which will bus customers upriver to the Pont Saint-Nicolas (until the river level drops low in late June).  Departing from Collias by kayak or canoe will bring you to the Pont du Gard in about an hour and one-half. It is possible to kayak or canoe under the Pont du Gard. Though, at times, the river is not high enough to allow for passage.

==Floods==
In September 2002 and again in December 2003, the Gardon had record level [[flood]]s that damaged many of its bridges including the Pont Saint-Nicolas, which has since been fully restored.  The river today shows few signs of the floods.

==Places along the river==
* [[Lozère]]
* [[Gard]] : [[Anduze]], [[Saint-Jean-du-Gard]], [[Saint-André-de-Valborgne]], [[Remoulins]], [[Montfrin]]

[[La Grand-Combe]] and [[Alès]] are situated on the [[Gardon d'Alès]], the major left tributary.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.regordane.info Regordane Info - The independent portal for the Regordane Way or St Gilles Trail. The Regordane Way runs alongside the river Gardon from Ners south-eastwards] {{in lang|en|fr}}
{{commons category|Gardon}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of France]]
[[Category:Rivers of Gard]]
[[Category:Rivers of Lozère]]
[[Category:Rivers of Occitania (administrative region)]]