The Crau is the ancient confluence of the Durance and Rhône, and constitutes their vast flat alluvial fan.
The Crau is composed of two different parts:
The dry Crau is in the south, and has been used as pasture from Roman times. There are around 100,000 sheep as of 2007[update], including the Merino sheep.
The wet Crau is in the north and includes the communes of Saint-Martin-de-Crau, Eyguières, Istres, Mouriès, and Arles. It produces the Crau hay, which benefits from an Appellation d’origine contrôlée
The Crau was described by Strabo as the Stony Plain (Book IV Chapter 1).
Coordinates: 43°34′14.93″N 4°51′15.88″E / 43.5708139°N 4.8544111°E