DAMRAGES, domesticating water.
Exhibition from April 14, 2023
The RESERVOIR, discovery area of the Canal du Midi
The Saint-Ferréol dam was first impounded in 1673. At 32 meters high, it is the oldest dam in France still in operation. To mark this anniversary, LE RESERVOIR, the Canal du Midi's discovery area, looks back at the history of these giants of stone, earth and concrete, which today dot our landscapes. Through this exhibition, we question the role and place of these structures in our territories, as well as our relationship with water in a context where "blue gold" is more precious than ever.
What is a dam?
A dam is an artificial structure built to interrupt the flow of a river to create a water reservoir. To qualify as a "dam", the height of the structure must exceed the height of the river it interrupts at its highest flood. A dam is not only a civil engineering structure, but also a work of art. It can be made of wood, earth, stone or concrete.
Harnessing water
Our relationship with water is complex. It is both a source of life, necessary to all living beings, and a destructive scourge that takes everything in its path. When people began to settle down, they had to find a compromise that gave them easy access to water for hydration and nourishment, while protecting them from flooding. They soon learned to divert water from rivers by digging small irrigation canals. But these canals are not immune to droughts and floods. By observing the natural world around them, mankind built the first dams. By obstructing watercourses with stones or branches, they created small temporary water reserves that had to be maintained or even rebuilt before each new dry season. Unfortunately, these makeshift ramparts are no match for seasonal variations in water levels, such as snowmelt or exceptional floods. The dam then becomes a strategic structure, where surplus water can be stored and used. In the 3rd millennium BC, the first large dams were built. This technical advance was not without its problems, but it opened up the possibility of man taking control of water.
For most human societies, mastery of water resources is a prerequisite for prosperity. In Africa, South America, Europe and Asia, dams have been around since ancient times. Made of wood, earth, stone or concrete, these giants have many consequences for our environment.
The construction of a dam profoundly transforms the world around it. It indelibly reshapes landscapes and ecosystems. Where there was a valley, there is now an artificial lake: the reservoir.
Ever taller and larger in volume, today's dams have long since surpassed those of antiquity. The ever-increasing range and diversity of uses for water over the years have driven mankind to perfect these structures, so that they are ever better suited to the places and roles assigned to them.
Travelling through the history of dams means questioning our relationship with water and its availability, yesterday, today and in the future.
Meet BEBER the beaver, the mascot created by Pierre Bonilla, throughout the exhibition.
