Historical changes of a large river in an urban area: The Garonne river, Toulouse, France

Man‐made structures have greatly modified the flow pattern of the Garonne River at Toulouse (France) since at least the 12th century. The first of many small dams was constructed in 1182. Destructive floods regularly destroyed the dams, flooded protions of the city, changed the river course, and destroyed the wooden bridges, the first of which was probably built during the first half of the 13th century. The first stone bridge was completed in 1660, after a 100 year period of constuction. After 1680 attempts to control the river led to a variety of river responses: increased sedimentation in some locations and erosion in others, a reduction in the number of islands from seventeen to four, and a 63 per cent reduction in the length of shoreline in the urban area of Toulouse.