Rivers of Western Europe

Introduction:

The rivers of France are important economically, environmentally, as well as

industrially to modern French society everywhere. Not only used for industry

and power, these rivers are sources of history and beauty in the everyday

world. Pollution is a common source of destruction and must be stopped to save

the natural beauty of the rivers. Each river is valued for many things in

French society and should be appreciated to the extent of their value.

The Loire River:

The Loire River is the longest flowing river in France. It runs a course of

over 630 miles long. Half of the Loire flows North beginning in the Massif

Central, a mountain range in the heart of France. The other half swings

abruptly west and empties into the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of the country.

The Loire is famous for the many exquisite castles and chateaux along its

riverbanks. The Loire is rich in the Renaissance history of France. The Loire

provides a delightful attraction in the countryside for tourists to visit. The

Loire Basin has a temperate maritime climate which is subject to violent

autumn storms. The Allier is a commonly known tributary of the Loire.

The Rhine and Rhone Rivers:

The Rhine River is one of the world's busiest waterways. It is the natural

border between France and Germany to the North Sea. The source of the Rh?ne

begins in the Swiss Alps and flows North towards the English Channel. It runs

through the most populated parts of France and Germany. The Rh?ne is linked to

another French river, the Rh?ne, by many canals. The Rhone begins at the

border in Switzerland and flows southwest to the town of Lyon, France where it

joins the Sa?ne River and continues flowing south where it empties into the

Mediterranean Sea near the beachfront haven of Marseille. The Rhone is a major

source of hydroelectric power in France. It houses many hydroelectric dams

over its course.

The Seine River:

The Seine River is perhaps the most important river of France and the most

navigable. It flows right through the heart of Paris, bypassing the Eiffel

Tower and the Louvre Museum. The Seine is one of the only rivers that offers a

full day boat tour of Paris, the countryside, and the river itself. The Seine

is one of the many attractions that Paris holds. It begins in central France

and flows Northwest through Paris and Normandy and empties into the English

Channel near the French port of Le Havre.

The Garonne River:

The Garonne River is directly west of the Rh?ne River over the mountains of

Massif Central in the center of France. The Garonne begins in the Pyrenees

Mountains at the border of France and Spain. It flows North through the city

of Toulouse where it is met by the Canal du Midi which links the Garonne to

the Mediterranean Sea. From there it flows farther North through Bordeaux to

the Atlantic Ocean where it meets an arm of the ocean which is referred to as

la Gironde.

Conclusion:

These are just a few of the main rivers that France has to offer the world.

Each river has its own beauty and provides some sort of industry, whether it

be tourism like the Loire or hydroelectric power like the Rh?ne. These rivers

are the basis for French colonization. When settling in France, people

searched for adequate living areas which provided a supply of water, shelter,

and food. Animals mainly congregate along the river banks for a water supply

so the people could find both water and food from the sources of the rivers.

From there, towns and cities sprung up. And from there, provinces were

declared. Many of the rivers run through several cities in France. The Seine

runs through the heart of Paris and empties in the important port of Le Havre.

The Garonne runs through both Toulouse and Bordeaux, main French cities. The

Rh?ne empties near Marseille, a ritzy beach town on the coast and also runs

through Lyon, a major French city. Without these important rivers, France

could never have been established. They provide industry, economy, and natural

beauty to the entire country of France.