DORDOGNE RIVER

river in southwestern France, rising in the Massif Central and flowing west for 293 mi (472 km) to Bec d'Ambs, north of Bordeaux, where it unites with the Garonne to form the Gironde Estuary; its drainage basin is about 9,300 sq mi (24,000 sq km). Its headwaters, rising at a height of more than 5,600 ft (1,700 m) on the Puy de Sancy, are formed by the Dore and Dognon rivers. After a torrential descent the Dordogne flows through the spa resorts of Le Mont Dore and La Bourboule, in the Puy de Dme dpartement. After passing through the Avze gorges, the river forms a lake 11 mi (18 km) long above the hydroelectric dam of Bort. It is dammed again four more times as it flows through the Dordogne gorges to Argentat (Corrze dpartement), below which it is joined by a number of tributaries. Skirting Souillac (Lot dpartement), it traverses the Dordogne dpartement, where it receives the Vzre, on the banks of which are Montignac, Lascaux, and Les Eyzies-de-Tayac (famous for their prehistoric caves, which with other caves have become a classic ground for the study of Paleolithic man). Entering the Gironde dpartement, the Dordogne receives the Isle at Libourne before flowing northwest to join the Garonne. There is much river traffic along the last 112 mi of its course.