Bassin de Lampy

The Bassin de Lampy was created during 1777 and 1781 when a dam was placed on the Lampy Valley in the Aude department in south-central France. The reservoir provides a source of water for the Canal du Midi. It was originally proposed in 1665 by the commission created by Louis XIV of France to evaluate Pierre-Paul Riquet's plan for the canal enterprise.[1][2]

Bassin de Lampy
Bassin de Lampy is located in France
Bassin de Lampy
Bassin de Lampy
LocationAude Near villages of Lampoit and Foncroisette.
Coordinates43°24′03″N 2°10′22″E
TypeReservoir
Primary inflowsLampy
Catchment areaLampy Valley
Basin countriesFrance
Surface area24 ha (59 acres)
Water volume1,600,000 m3 (57,000,000 cu ft)

The original reservoir in support of the canal was at Bassin de St. Ferréol. In 1776 a link was provided between the canal and the Aude and the Canal de la Robine at Narbonne. This connection and an increase in barge traffic led to a requirement for more water.[2]

A short time after the dam was complete, leaks were found. They were stopped by pouring a large quantity of quick lime into the reservoir. The particles of lime thus suspended and were carried into the leaking areas and filled all the openings in the joints of masonry and even into the stone.[3]

The feeder canal from the basin to the canal is 52,552m.[1]

The basin covers some 24 hectares and contains some 1,600,000 cubic metres of water. It flows into the Bassin de St. Ferréol.[4]

References
  1. McKnight, Hugh (2005). Cruising French Waterways, 4th Edition. Sheridan House. ISBN 978-0-7136-6638-0.
  2. Rolt, L. T. C. (1973). From Sea to Sea: The Canal Du Midi. Ohio University Press. ISBN 978-0-8214-0152-1.
  3. Sganzin, Joseph Mathieu (1828). An Elementary Course of Civil Engineering.
  4. "Carcassonne.org". Retrieved 15 October 2009.
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