The middle part of the Durance runs through a landscape that changes as the valley increasingly widens.
The river itself becomes steeply banked by terraces, and carves a channel, sometimes a few metres deep, sometimes tens of metres deep.
In its middle and lower reaches the Durance is affected by the Mediterranean climate: flooding after autumnal rains, with low water levels in summer.
Just before the narrow gap in the mountains at Sisteron, the Durance joins Buëch and the Sasse.
Water also flows in from the EDF Canal.

Beyond Sisteron further rivers and streams join the Durance: Jabron, Vançon,  Bléone near Les Mées and from the Asse (river) a few kilometres to the south of Oraison.
The Verdon flows into the Durance near Cadarache.
The valley widens still further into an alluvial plain several kilometres wide (5 kilometres (3.1 mi) near Manosque).
Here the river was diverted for the development of modern agriculture and the construction of the A51 motorway.

There are several dams along the middle part of the Durance.
In addition to main dam at Serre-Ponçon, there are dams at Espinasses, Sisteron, L'Escale and Cadarache.
There are small canals whose primary purpose is to draw water from the river into the EDF Canal which in turn feeds the hydroelectric power stations.
Some of the water diverted by the dams is used for irrigation.
The middle part of the Durance runs through a landscape that changes as the valley increasingly widens. The river itself becomes steeply banked by terraces, and carves a channel, sometimes a few metres deep, sometimes tens of metres deep. In its middle and lower reaches the Durance is affected by the Mediterranean climate: flooding after autumnal rains, with low water levels in summer. Just before the narrow gap in the mountains at Sisteron, the Durance joins Buëch and the Sasse. Water also flows in from the EDF Canal.
Beyond Sisteron further rivers and streams join the Durance: Jabron, Vançon,  Bléone near Les Mées and from the Asse (river) a few kilometres to the south of Oraison. The Verdon flows into the Durance near Cadarache. The valley widens still further into an alluvial plain several kilometres wide (5 kilometres (3.1 mi) near Manosque). Here the river was diverted for the development of modern agriculture and the construction of the A51 motorway.
There are several dams along the middle part of the Durance. In addition to main dam at Serre-Ponçon, there are dams at Espinasses, Sisteron, L'Escale and Cadarache. There are small canals whose primary purpose is to draw water from the river into the EDF Canal which in turn feeds the hydroelectric power stations. Some of the water diverted by the dams is used for irrigation.
Durance