Lot
The Lot is a French river that rises in the Central Massif. Its source is located in Mont Lozère and the river then flows from Mont Lozère to Aiguillon, where it flows into the Garonne. With a length of 481 km, of which only 200 km flows directly, the Lot largely runs through the limestone region of central France. This results in a deeply eroded valley along the meandering river.
The Lot played a significant role in transporting goods from the mines of Capdenac and Decazeville for a long period of time. As a result, the river was made navigable up to Decazeville in the 19th century and a railway line was built through the river valley of Cahors, with connecting to the national railway network, to Decazeville. After the mines were closed, the need to keep the river navigable disappeared, but the works built for this purpose still exist. The railway line is now out of use, some stations were sold to private individuals in 2007 and converted into homes.
Characteristics
The flow in the river is highly seasonal and can vary from 13 m³/s in the summer to 700 m³/s in the winter and particularly in the spring. The Lot is kept navigable with a series of dams and locks, allowing ships with not too deep draft to navigate the river throughout the year. The main tributaries flowing into the Lot are: Boudouyssou Bramont Célé Lémance Lède Truyère.
The Lot has played an important role in the transportation of goods from the mines of Capdenac and Decazeville for a long time.
The lock at Ganil and the carved towpath along the river below the lock form a unique location. I once found this place in a book about inland navigation in France, with photos by Harry de Groot. I went on a search using only the description and finally found it. It is a beautiful area where small recreational boats still operate the lock themselves.
The lock of Nicole is the endpoint of the river. The lock itself looks abandoned, and I think it can only be used very limitedly. The water level of the river must have a certain height. From here, navigation could be possible towards the Baise, however the lock there is also limited in its use because of the river's water level.