Editing Avignon (section)

== Geography ==
Avignon is on the left bank of the [[Rhône]] river, a few kilometres above its confluence with the [[Durance]], about {{cvt|580|km|0}} south-east of Paris, {{cvt|229|km|0}} south of [[Lyon]] and {{cvt|85|km|0}} north-north-west of [[Marseille]]. On the west it shares a border with the department of [[Gard]] and the communes of [[Villeneuve-lès-Avignon]] and [[Les Angles, Gard|Les Angles]] and to the south it borders the department of [[Bouches-du-Rhône]] and the communes of [[Barbentane]], [[Rognonas]], [[Châteaurenard]], and [[Noves]].

The city is in the vicinity of [[Orange, Vaucluse|Orange]] (north), [[Nîmes]], [[Montpellier]] (south-west), [[Arles]] (to the south), [[Salon-de-Provence]], and [[Marseille]] (south-east). Directly contiguous to the east and north are the communes of [[Caumont-sur-Durance]], [[Morières-lès-Avignon]], [[Le Pontet, Vaucluse|Le Pontet]], and [[Sorgues]].

=== Geology and terrain ===
[[File:P1280052 - Avignon.JPG|thumb|Aerial view of Avignon]]

The region around Avignon is very rich in [[limestone]] which is used for building material. For example, the current [[Walls of Avignon|city walls]], measuring 4,330 metres long, were built with the soft limestone abundant in the region called ''mollasse burdigalienne''.<ref name="geologie">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220632/http://www.cjrosier.com/Agence-immobiliere/Relief-et-geologie-des-sols-autour-d-Avignon-Vaucluse.htm Relief and Geology of the Avignon sector], Agence Rosier website (archived) {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

Enclosed by the city walls, the ''Rocher des Doms'' is a limestone elevation of ''[[Urgonian Limestone|Urgonian]]'' type, 35 metres high<ref>[http://www.universalis.fr/encyclopedie/avignon Avignon Encyclopedia] Universalis website {{in lang|fr}}</ref> (and therefore safe from flooding of the Rhone which it overlooks) and is the original core of the city. Several limestone massifs are present around the commune (the ''Massif des Angles'', ''Villeneuve-lès-Avignon'', ''Alpilles''...) and they are partly the result of the [[oceanisation]] of the Ligurian-Provençal basin following the migration of the Sardo-Corsican block.<ref name="geologie"/>

The other significant elevation in the commune is the [[Montfavet]] Hill—a wooded hill in the east of the commune.<ref name="geologie"/>

The [[Rhone Valley]] is an old alluvial zone: loose deposits cover much of the ground. It consists of sandy alluvium more or less coloured with pebbles consisting mainly of siliceous rocks. The islands in the Rhone, such as the ''Île de la Barthelasse'', were created by the accumulation of alluvial deposits and also by the work of man. The relief is quite low despite the creation of mounds allowing local protection from flooding.<ref name="geologie"/>

In the land around the city there are clay, silt, sand, and limestone present.<ref name="geologie"/>

=== Hydrography ===
[[File:Vue des ponts d'Avignon par JM Rosier.JPG|thumb|Bridges on the ''Grand [[Rhône]]''.]]
[[File:Pont d'Avignon.jpg|thumb|The ''[[Pont Saint-Bénézet|Pont d'Avignon]]'' on the ''Petit Rhône''. In the background is [[Mont Ventoux]].]]

The Rhone passes the western edge of the city, but is divided into two branches: the ''Petit Rhône'', or "dead arm", for the part that passes next to Avignon and the ''Grand Rhône'', or "live arm", for the western channel which passes [[Villeneuve-lès-Avignon]] in the [[Gard]] department. The two branches are separated by an island, the Île de la Barthelasse. The southernmost tip of the Île de la Barthelasse once formed of a separated island, the L'Île de Piot.<ref>{{ cite web | title=Cassini map circa 1750: Avignon | url=http://rumsey.geogarage.com/maps/cassinige.html?lat=43.9493&lon=4.8059&zoom=13 | publisher=David Rumsey Historical Map Collection | access-date=31 July 2014 }}</ref>

The banks of the Rhone and the Île de la Barthelasse are often subject to flooding during autumn and March. The publication ''Floods in France since the 6th century until today – research and documentation''{{sfn|Champion|1862}} by Maurice Champion tells about a number of them (until 1862, the flood of 1856 was one of the largest, which destroyed part of the walls). They have never really stopped as shown by the floods in 1943–1944<ref>[http://www.ina.fr/video/AFE86002249/la-crue-de-l-allier-video.html ''Floods in Avignon''], [[Institut national de l'audiovisuel]] video document, consulted on 19 July 2014 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> and again on 23 January 1955<ref>[http://www.ina.fr/video/CAF94017398/inondations-a-paris-et-a-avignon-video.html ''Floods in Paris and Avignon''], 23 January 1955, [[Institut national de l'audiovisuel]] video document JT 20h, [[ORTF]], consulted on 19 July 2014 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> and remain important today—such as the floods of 2 December 2003.<ref>[http://www.ina.fr/video/2454650001002/voyage-helico-vaucluse-video.html ''Floods on 2 December 2003''], [[Institut national de l'audiovisuel]] video document {{in lang|fr}}</ref> As a result, a new risk mapping has been developed.

The [[Durance]] flows along the southern boundary of the commune into the Rhone and marks the departmental boundary with [[Bouches-du-Rhône]].<ref name=sandre>{{sandre|id=X---0000|first=La Durance}}</ref> It is a river that is considered "capricious" and once feared for its floods (it was once called the "3rd scourge of Provence"{{efn|Provençal tradition says that the first two were the [[mistral (wind)|mistral]] and the [[Parlement of Aix-en-Provence|Parliament of Aix]]}} as well as for its low water: the Durance has both Alpine and Mediterranean morphology which is unusual.

There are many natural and artificial water lakes in the commune such as the Lake of Saint-Chamand east of the city.

==== Artificial diversions ====
[[File:Moulin Parc chico mendes 6.jpg|thumb|A mill on the Vaucluse Canal in the ''Pont des 2 eaux'' district]]

There have been many diversions<ref>[http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/avignon-tourism/monuments/rue-des-teinturiers.htm The Street of Dyers – Avignon], avignon-et-provence.com website, consulted on 19 July 2014</ref> throughout the course of history, such as feeding the moat surrounding Avignon or irrigating crops.

In the 10th century part of the waters from the ''Sorgue d'Entraigues'' were diverted and today pass under the walls to enter the city. (See [[Sorgue]]). This watercourse is called the Vaucluse Canal but Avignon people still call it the ''Sorgue'' or ''Sorguette''. It is visible in the city in the ''Rue des teinturiers'' (street of dyers). It fed the moat around the first defensive walls then fed the moat on the newer eastern city walls (14th century).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avignon-et-provence.com/en/monuments/rue-teinturiers-avignon|title=The Rue des Teinturiers in Avignon &#124; Avignon et Provence|website=www.avignon-et-provence.com}}</ref> In the 13th century (under an Act signed in 1229) part of the waters of the Durance were diverted to increase the water available for the moats starting from Bonpas. This river was later called the ''Durançole''. {{Citation needed|date=July 2017}} The ''Durançole'' fed the western moats of the city and was also used to irrigate crops at Montfavet. In the city, these streams are often hidden beneath the streets and houses and are currently used to collect sewerage. {{Citation needed|date=July 2017}}

The Hospital Canal (joining the Durançole) and the Crillon Canal (1775) were dug to irrigate the territories of Montfavet, Pontet, and Vedène. {{citation needed|date=October 2017}} They were divided into numerous "fioles" or "filioles" (in [[Provençal dialect|Provençal]] ''filhòlas'' or ''fiolo''). Similarly, to irrigate the gardens of the wealthy south of Avignon, the Puy Canal was dug (1808). All of these canals took their water from the Durance. These canals were initially used to flood the land, which was very stony, to fertilize them by deposition of silt. {{Citation needed|date=July 2017}}

All of these canals have been used to operate many mills.

=== Seismicity ===
[[File:Clocher de l'église des Augustins (Place des Carmes) Avignon, by JM Rosier.JPG|thumb|upright|The leaning bell tower of the Church of the [[Augustinians]].]]

Under the new seismic zoning of France defined in Decree No. 2010-1255 of 22 October 2010 concerning the delimitation of the seismicity of the French territory and which entered into force on 1 May 2011, Avignon is located in an area of moderate seismicity. The previous zoning is shown below for reference.

"The cantons of Bonnieux, Apt, Cadenet, Cavaillon, and Pertuis are classified in zone Ib (low risk). All other cantons the Vaucluse department, including Avignon, are classified Ia (very low risk). This zoning is for exceptional seismicity resulting in the destruction of buildings."<ref>''Regulatory Seismic Zoning of France, classed by cantons (as at the end of 1989) in the PACA rehion'', p. 48. {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

The presence of faults in the limestone substrate shows that significant tectonic shift has caused earthquakes in different geological ages. The last major earthquake of significant magnitude was on 11 June 1909.{{efn|The épicentre was at Lambesc—a village in Bouches-du-Rhône.}} It left a visible trace in the centre of the city since the bell tower of the Augustinians, which is surmounted by an ancient [[campanile]] of wrought iron, located in Rue Carreterie, remained slightly leaning as a result of this earthquake.

{{Main|1909 Provence earthquake}}

=== Climate ===
Avignon has a [[hot-summer mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: '''Csa'''), though the dry-summer effect is not as strong as coastal locations like [[Marseille]] due to its more sheltered inland location. The city experiences mild-cool winters and hot summers, with moderate rainfall year-round. The city is often subject to windy weather; the strongest wind is the [[mistral (wind)|mistral]]. A medieval Latin proverb said of the city: ''Avenie ventosa, sine vento venenosa, cum vento fastidiosa'' (Windy Avignon, pest-ridden when there is no wind, wind-pestered when there is).{{sfn|Mistral|1979|p=[http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k74854/f203.image 196]}}

{{Weather box
|location = Avignon (1993–2020 averages, extremes 1993–present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 20.8
|Feb record high C = 23.1
|Mar record high C = 26.7
|Apr record high C = 31.4
|May record high C = 34.2
|Jun record high C = 42.8
|Jul record high C = 39.6
|Aug record high C = 42.0
|Sep record high C = 35.5
|Oct record high C = 31.0
|Nov record high C = 23.8
|Dec record high C = 19.3
|year record high C = 42.8
|Jan high C = 10.7
|Feb high C = 12.4
|Mar high C = 16.6
|Apr high C = 19.7
|May high C = 23.9
|Jun high C = 28.7
|Jul high C = 31.5
|Aug high C = 31.1
|Sep high C = 26.0
|Oct high C = 21.0
|Nov high C = 14.7
|Dec high C = 11.0
|year high C = 20.6
|Jan mean C = 6.3
|Feb mean C = 7.4
|Mar mean C = 10.8
|Apr mean C = 13.7
|May mean C = 17.8
|Jun mean C = 22.1
|Jul mean C = 24.8
|Aug mean C = 24.3
|Sep mean C = 19.9
|Oct mean C = 15.8
|Nov mean C = 10.3
|Dec mean C = 6.7
|year mean C = 15.0
|Jan low C = 1.9
|Feb low C = 2.3
|Mar low C = 5.0
|Apr low C = 7.7
|May low C = 11.7
|Jun low C = 15.6
|Jul low C = 18.0
|Aug low C = 17.6
|Sep low C = 13.9
|Oct low C = 10.7
|Nov low C = 6.0
|Dec low C = 2.5
|year low C = 9.4
|Jan record low C = −8.7
|Feb record low C = −7.8
|Mar record low C = −9.9
|Apr record low C = −4.2
|May record low C = 2.4
|Jun record low C = 6.7
|Jul record low C = 10.7
|Aug record low C = 9.5
|Sep record low C = 5.5
|Oct record low C = −2.0
|Nov record low C = −7.1
|Dec record low C = −8.6
|year record low C = −9.9
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 55.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 35.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 36.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 59.9
|May precipitation mm = 52.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 35.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 23.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 35.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 91.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 88.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 92.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 43.5
|year precipitation mm = 648.8
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 5.7
|Feb precipitation days = 4.8
|Mar precipitation days = 4.4
|Apr precipitation days = 6.5
|May precipitation days = 6.0
|Jun precipitation days = 3.7
|Jul precipitation days = 2.6
|Aug precipitation days = 3.3
|Sep precipitation days = 5.2
|Oct precipitation days = 6.0
|Nov precipitation days = 7.5
|Dec precipitation days = 5.2
|year precipitation days = 60.9
|source 1 = [[Météo France]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_84007005.pdf
| title = Avignon–INRA (84)
| work = Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1991–2020 et records
| publisher = Meteo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 29 March 2018}}</ref>
}}

The record temperature record since the existence of the weather station at Orange is 42.8&nbsp;°C on 28 June 2019 and the record lowest was −14.5&nbsp;°C on 2 February 1956.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie-07579-orange-caritat.html|title=Normales et records météorologiques - Infoclimat|website=infoclimat.fr}}</ref>

==== The mistral ====
The prevailing wind is the [[mistral (wind)|mistral]] for which the windspeed can be beyond 110&nbsp;km/h. It blows between 120 and 160 days per year with an average speed of 90&nbsp;km/h in gusts.<ref>Jean Vialar, ''Regional and local winds'', 1948; reprinted by [[Météo-France]] in 2003. {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The following table shows the different speeds of the mistral recorded by Orange and Carpentras Serres stations in the southern Rhone valley and its frequency in 2006. ''Normal'' corresponds to the average of the last 53 years{{when|date=January 2024}} from Orange weather reports and that of the last 42{{when|date=January 2024}} at Carpentras.<ref>Source: Inter Rhône technical services at Avignon [http://www.vacqueyras.tm.fr/pdf/2006.pdf Metereological data from 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113000049/http://www.vacqueyras.tm.fr/pdf/2006.pdf |date=13 November 2008 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

'''Legend:''' "=" same as normal; "+" higher than normal; "-" lower than normal

{| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Speed of mistral winds in km/h
| 
! scope="col" | Jan.
! scope="col" | Feb.
! scope="col" | Mar.
! scope="col" | Apr.
! scope="col" | May.
! scope="col" | Jun.
! scope="col" | Jul.
! scope="col" | Aug.
! scope="col" | Sep.
! scope="col" | Oct.
! scope="col" | Nov.
! scope="col" | Dec.
|-
! abbr="Max. Speed" scope="col" | Maximum recorded speed by month
|106
|127
|119
|97
|94
|144
|90
|90
|90
|87
|91
|118
|-
! abbr="Tendency" scope="col" | Tendency: Days with speed<br/>> {{cvt|16|m/s|kph}}
|<nowiki>--</nowiki>
|<nowiki>+++</nowiki>
|<nowiki>---</nowiki>
|<nowiki>++++</nowiki>
|<nowiki>++++</nowiki>
|<nowiki>=</nowiki>
|<nowiki>=</nowiki>
|<nowiki>++++</nowiki>
|<nowiki>+</nowiki>
|<nowiki>---</nowiki>
|<nowiki>=</nowiki>
|<nowiki>++</nowiki>
|}