Rafting, canyoning, kayaking... how water activities are adapting to global warming

Rafting is over in the Gorges du Verdon.

The river, which stretches over a hundred kilometers from Castillon Lake and Chaudanne Lake, is not completely dry, but its level is insufficient for the practice of this leisure activity popular with holidaymakers who visit the largest canyon. from Europe.

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"We offer other ways to have fun such as aquatic hiking, with walking phases along the banks to protect areas with a high presence of fish, confides, bitterly, Michel Buisson, the director of the Verdon Tourism office.

In places around Lac de Castillon, the beach is now 100 m deeper.

This does not prevent swimming or navigation but modifies the way of accessing the water.

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Courses “less sporty, less committed and shorter”

In the resort of Vars, at just over 1800 m altitude in the Hautes-Alpes, the levels are also low, the latest readings show a height of only 51 cm on the Durance, and "worthy of an end of August ".

“Canyoning and rafting remain on the program of what is offered but the professionals are changing their way of doing things, notes Anna Fréjus, from the tourist office of the alpine resort.

The courses are less sporty, less committed and shorter, and the instructors make more stops with water games or aquatic hiking.

It remains fun and works very well with a family audience.

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In the Gorges du Tarn, kayaking also remains practicable, but in a more limited way than normal.

“Usually, departures can be made from Castelbouc, but, because the level of the Tarn is too low, they are made from Sainte-Enimie, 15 km downstream of the river, explains Ludovic Insalaco, reception manager. public at the Gorges du Tarn tourist office.

This remains worrying because the signs of the effects of climate change are there, and unfortunately will be so in a lasting way: a small waterfall, in Saint-Chély-du-Tarn, no longer flows as it did before in the summer.

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