Ouzoum
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| Ouzoum | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Litor Circus |
| Mouth | Gave de Pau |
| Basin countries | France |
| Length | 30 km |
| Source elevation | 1 131 m |
| Avg. discharge | 6.85 m³/s |
| Basin area | 163 km² |
The Ouzoum or Ouzom (/ uzũ /), is a left tributary of the Gave de Pau, in the Southwest of France, between the Génie longue and the Béez.
It flows into the Gave in Nay, upstream fom Pau.
Contents |
[edit] Name
Historical graphies were oscillating between the voiced -s- and the unvoiced -ss-: Oson (1441), Osom, Osson, Ozon (1538), le Lozon (1581), l'Ouson (1585)[1][2].
This name could be related with the Pyrenean hydronym Ousse[3].
[edit] Geography
The valley of the Ouzoum is separated in two distinct parts by a 9 km long narrow pass. The villages located in the upper part of the valley (Arbéost and Ferrières) belong to the Hautes-Pyrénées and have relationships with the Val d'Azun, on the other side of the mountain. On the other hand, the lower part of the valley, close to Pau, is Béarnese (Pyrénées-Atlantiques).
The Ouzoum rises at Cap d’Ouzom ('head of Ouzom'; 1 131 m), in the Litor Circus dominated by the Grand Gabizos (2 692 m). This circus is in relation with the Val d'Azun through the Soulor Pass (1 474 m) and with the Ossau Valley through the Aubisque Pass (1 709 m) .
After the basin of Ferrières, the Ouzoum flows through a narrow pass bordered by steep limestone slopes. The valley widens after Arthez-d'Asson.
Its hydrographic regime is pluvionival.
[edit] Départements and towns
- Hautes-Pyrénées: Arbéost, Ferrières
- Pyrénées-Atlantiques: Asson, Arthez-d'Asson, Igon, Nay.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Paul Raymond, Dictionnaire topographique du département des Basses-Pyrénées, 1863.
- ^ at this time the o was pronounced /u/.
- ^ Michel Grosclaude, « L'hydronyme Ousse », Dictionnaire toponymique des communes du Béarn, 1991, p. 390.
