For centuries, this amazing river has been one of the most important waterways that led from the very center of France to the oceans. And it was here that huge ships passed from the Atlantic to the heart of the state. Today this river is navigable, but the path to the center of the country is closed. The largest river in France is the Laura.
About two thousand years on the river, shipping was widely developed. Here, from the 9th century, construction work has been carried out on the construction of dams to protect settlements and for the needs of navigation. But often dams are not able to hold powerful streams of a huge unpredictable river (catastrophes of 1856 and 1866).
Before we talk about it, consider what other rivers flow through the territory of France.
Rivers of France: Short Description
France has a sufficient amount of hydrological resources. There are no drying lakes and rivers in this country, a rather moderate warm sea climate reigns, rainfall constantly throughout the year. This, of course, contributes to the fact that the entire water system is almost unchanged.
The complex of natural reservoirs of France includes hundreds of the smallest reservoirs and large rivers. But there is a peculiarity in this country. According to the terminology in France, rivers (fleuves) are water bodies that directly flow into the oceans. And there are 131 such people on the territory of this country, and only 10 of them (Loire, Rhine, Rhône, Maas, Garonne, Seine, Charente, Dordogne, Scheldt and Adur) have a length of more than 300 km. Moreover, the basins of all these rivers occupy more than 400 thousand square kilometers of the entire state (more than 70%).
These rivers of France are the main catchment areas. The volumes of water flow at the mouths have the following values (in cubic meters / s): Loire - 931, Rhine - 2300, Rhone - 1690, Maas - 400, Garonne - 650, Seine - 563, Charente - 49, Dordogne - 380, Scheldt - 104 and Adour - 350. Their total annual water collection in the total mass is about 40-45% of the total annual volume throughout France. About 33-34% of these are rivers flowing into the seas: the Rhone, Loire, Dordogne, Seine, Garonne, Adour and Charente. The reservoirs that leave water within France are the Meuse, Rhine and Scheldt.
Loire River: parameters
It flows into the Atlantic Ocean precisely on the territory of France. 1020 kilometers is the Loire River. The map shows that it is really the longest. Its pool covers an area of more than 115, 000 square meters. km, which represents more than 20% of the territory of continental France, in connection with which it is the most important and significant river in the country.
Waterway
The Loire originates near a small village called Saint-Elalie (in the department of Ardèche), located in the east of the Central French Massif. The height of this place is 1408 meters above sea level.
The river in France on its way crosses the northern and eastern slopes of the massif, after which it falls into the Paris Basin (the North French Lowland). In these places, the flow velocity drops sharply, and it turns into a fairly calm river, flowing along the plain with shallows and outflows. On its shores are numerous cities in France, such as Roanne, Orleans, Angers, Nevers, Blois, Tours and Nantes. The city on the Loire River Saint-Nazaire is a point of confluence with the Atlantic Ocean.
The path of the great river initially runs from south to north to the city of Orleans, after which it turns from east to west to the city of Nantes. Then the river carries its waters all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, no longer changing direction.
Relief
The Loire is a river originating on a rocky ledge (volcanic), which is called Gerbier de Jaune (Department of Ardèche, within Velay and Vivar). About 150 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea takes the meridian direction to the north.
A mountain river flows with great speed along a rather uneven terrain between the huge granite boulders of the Central Massif. It overcomes the mountains of the crystalline structure of Velay (there are numerous passes in them) and the mountains near Butier, in Foret, in Beaujolais, in Lyon and Madeleine.
Loire: river regime, cataclysms
In autumn and winter, the river is replenished with Mediterranean showers and oceanic rainfall, and in the springtime, snowmelt and ocean rain. In the summer, the pond is quite poor in water. What is the reason for this, we will consider further.
These places are characterized by unexpected changes in climatic conditions, which significantly affects the state of the river. In a rather dry summer, the Loire is greatly modified. Moreover, sharp climatic deviations often reach rather catastrophic values. Various natural phenomena occur. Mediterranean autumn tornadoes occurred in October and September of 1846 and 1866, respectively, heavy ocean showers (winters of 1910 and 1936) and long spring rains in combination with sudden sudden snowmelt (early summer of 1856).
River inflow
The Loire has the main tributary (from the left bank) - the Allier River. Its length is 421 kilometers, water consumption - an average of 140 m³ / s. More than 14 300 km² - the area of the pool.
The water in Alla has the lowest level in the summer (July to September). Its source is also located in the Central Massif. The direction of the river is mainly northern. On the shores is one of the most beautiful French cities - Moulins (the capital of the department of the same name).
This river is unique in that in its waters in a natural environment, a fish lives - freshwater grayling.
Medieval towers, sights
The Loire Valley has a huge variety of beautiful ancient architectural structures: castles, palaces, ancient cities and so on. They carry the fascinating centuries-old history of wonderful France.
Medieval towers at one time witnessed a wide variety of military events. Subsequently, turning into beautiful buildings, they became magnificent centers of culture and art (they listened to great music, watched beautiful paintings, showed wonderful theatrical performances, composed and read poems, novels, and many others). This is the most wonderful, almost fabulous valley.
The main castles of these amazing places are Amboise, Lange, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, Blois, Chaumont-sur-Loire, Chambord and Valence. The magnificent Loire Valley, located between Chalons and Sully-sur-Loire, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.
No wonder the Loire is a river, which is also called the royal, and its valley is the royal garden of France, or the country's wedding dress.
It should be noted that, unfortunately, the incorrectly performed work on cleaning the bottom of the Loire became the reasons for the destruction of a remarkable ancient architectural structure - the Tour Bridge (1978).
The value of the river for the country
The river for France is important in many areas. Mostly the Loire is a river (like the R. Rhone), which is of great importance in the production of energy for the country. Two barriers were also built on its territory (at the highest basin): Nossant and Willrest (the Allau river basin), which today serve mainly to cool nuclear reactors located in four places in France.
In addition, the river is connected by a large number of channels to the Seine (Nivere and Briarsky), to the Sonya River (Central), from the river Cher (Berry). The pond is navigable only upstream near Nantes.
It should be noted that the Loire is a river contributing to the wide development of agriculture and tourism.
