The Working Rhône

More than any other French river, the Rhône has been put to work. Nineteen major dams and locks between Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean have turned it into France's most productive river for hydroelectric power. The Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR), established in 1933, represents one of Europe's most ambitious river development projects.

This development came at a cost. Entire villages disappeared beneath reservoirs. The river's famous rapids, which challenged boatmen for centuries, vanished behind concrete. Yet the transformation also created opportunities. The locks enabled reliable navigation, turning Lyon and other river cities into major ports connected to the Mediterranean.

Captain Marianne Dubois, one of the few female barge captains on the Rhône, appreciates both sides: "Yes, we lost the wild river my great-grandfather knew. But we gained a river that provides clean energy and good jobs. My daughter can dream of being a captain because the Rhône is navigable year-round. Progress has many faces."