Durance

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Durance , river, c.180 mi (290 km) long, rising in SE France at the foot of Montgenèvre Pass on the Italian border and flowing southwest then northwest before entering the Rhône River at Avignon. The upper Durance is used to generate hydroelectricity; the lower river is used for irrigation and for municipal water supply.

durance †duration, lastingness XV; forced confinement or restraint, now esp. in phr. durance vile; †stout cloth XVI. — OF., f. durer last :- L. dūrāre; see next and -ANCE.

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