Editing Avignon (section)

=== 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.