The Dordogne river offers stunning views, refined gastronomic specialities and has a long and important history.... But at the same time it’s a river with 5 large dams, making a significant hydroelectric contribution to the economy. Thus the dams of Bort-les-orgues, L’Aigle, MarPges, Chastang and Le Sablier d’Argentat between them represent a hydroelectric contribution which completes that of the Alps and the Pyrenees.

Bort-les-Orgues Dam, commissioned in 1952 is placed on the boundary between the departments of Cantal and Correze. Fed by the waters of the Dordogne and the Rhue, it is the first in the great staircase of Dordogne dams.
The dam of hybrid gravity/arch type has a height of 118.8 metres (390 feet) and its capacity, at 477 million cubic metres is one of the largest in Europe. Its reservoir is 21 km (12 miles) long.

The very impressive Marèges Dam, of double curved arch type was built between 1932 and 1935 by the SNCF (French Railways). It has a height of 90 metres (295 feet) and a capacity of 47 million cubic metres. The MarPges dam is the second step between the dams of Bort-les-Orgues and l’Aigle.

The Aigle Dam was commissioned on 1945. The dam is fed by the Dordogne, and, from the right bank the LuzPge, Vianon and Aubre rivers, while from the left bank, the Auze and the Vergne flow in. The dam of hybrid gravity/arch type has a height of 84 metres (275 feet), a capacity of 220 million cubic metres and its reservoir is 25 km (15 miles) long.