Saint-Victor-et-Melvieu

In the south of the Massif Central, in the southern half of the department of Aveyron, the commune of Saint-Victor-et-Melvieu is situated in the interior of natural regional park of the Grands Causses [fr]. The communal territory, which extends for 17.91 km^2, is constituted of landscapes of avant-causses, characterized by hills. It is bordered on the north and northwest by the Tarn in the gorges called the Raspes [fr], where the hydroelectric dams of Pinet [fr] and of Truel [fr] (or Pouget) are implanted.

The minimal altitude, with 262 meters, is localized at the extreme west, near the place called the May d'Entraygues, where the Tarn leaves the commune and enters that of Le Truel. The maximal altitude with 689 or 694 meters^{[note 1]} is a kilometer and a half to the northwest of the village of Saint-Victor, at the Puech de Luargues.^{[3][verification needed]}

The commune is drained by the Tarn, the stream of Geneve, the stream of the Valade, a branch of the Tarn, the stream of Pourquairol, the stream of Ricardel, and by several small courses of water.^[4]

The Lac de Pinet completes the hydrographic network. It is related to a very wild lake on its part downstream^{[clarification needed]}, of a maximum depth of 25 meters and a superficial one of 130 ha. It is open to fishing at the upstream part up to Mas de Lanauq. It is in the territories and communes of Saint-Rome-de-Tarn, Saint-Victor-et-Melvieu, and Viala-du-Tarn.^[5]

Saint-Victor-et-Melvieu is a member of the syndicat mixte Tarn Sorgues Dourdou Rance, which assures the public water management of this part of the Tarn river basin.^[6]