Seuil de Naurouze

Riquet Monument
43°20′58″N 1°51′13″E / 43.34938°N 1.85357°ECoordinates: 43°20′58″N 1°51′13″E / 43.34938°N 1.85357°E

The Seuil de Naurouze, or Col de Naurouze, is the highest point (190 m above sea level) of the Canal du Midi in southern France. It is the watershed point identified by Pierre-Paul Riquet when he designed and built the canal. Water falling on the western side of this point flows to the Atlantic Ocean and on the eastern side to the Mediterranean Sea. It is on the border of the department of Haute-Garonne and the department of the Aude.^{[1] [2]}

In 1827,^[3] the heirs of Riquet built the Riquet Obelisk. The obelisk has a dedication: "To Pierre-Paul Riquet, Baron Bonrepos, author of the Two Seas Canal in Languedoc". It is erected near the site of the former octagonal holding tank, called the Bassin de Naurouze created during the building of the Canal du Midi.

The flow of water from the Bassin de St. Ferréol joins the Canal at this point.

References

1. Rolt, L. T. C. (1973). From Sea to Sea. Ohio University Press. ISBN 9780713904710.
2. Mukerji, Chandra (2009). Impossible Engineering: Technology and Territoriality on the Canal du Midi. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-14032-2.
3. Kiessler, Bernd-Wilfried (2009). The Canal du Midi A Cruiser's Guide. Adlard Coles Nautical. pp. 115–116. ISBN 978-1-4081-1273-1.

Gallery

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  épanchoir de Naurouze

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  Obélisque de Riquet

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  arrivée de l'eau depuis le bassin de Naurouze dans le canal du Midi

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  Obélisque de Riquet

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  arrivée de la rigole de la plaine

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  panneau du bief de partage

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  Écluse sur le Canal du Midi près de Naurouze.

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  Sign indicating the Océan Lock at the Seuil de Naurouze.