The River Seine as a symbol of Paris and all of France

Since ancient times, people have settled on the river banks. The river of the Seine in Paris, where approximately in the third century BC there was a tribe of Gauls, known as the Parisees, was no exception. It should be noted that through it passed an important trade waterway that connected the east with the Atlantic.

Origin of the name

There are several versions regarding the origin of the name of this pond. One of the most common is that the river Sena is called the Latin word "Sequana", which in translation means "sacred river". At the same time, some historians claim that the name is of Gallic origin. They assume that this is a modified name for the Yonne River, the tributary of which, according to the Gauls, was the Seine. In the lower reaches, on the territory of Normandy, earlier this water flow was generally called "Rodo" - in honor of the plain of the same name.

general description

The Seine River stretched for 776 kilometers. It originates in Burgundy (a province in eastern France), in the region of the Langre Plateau, which rises above sea level by 471 meters. It flows mainly along the northern French lowland, through the Paris basin. In the immediate vicinity of Paris, she does a lot of various twists and turns. Not far from the city Le Havre runs into one of the bays of the English Channel. The largest river-tributary of the Seine is Oise. In addition to it, to the right along the current here fall Marna and Oh, and on the left - Jonna. The total area of the basin is almost 79 thousand km ² .

Whatever it was, the Seine is replenished mainly due to atmospheric precipitation. The same can be said about other water bodies that are located on the territory of France. In particular, the period from November to March is characterized by the highest water level rise. The slope of the river Seine is just over 60 centimeters per kilometer. In general, it can be described as a full-flowing river with a steady level and a calm current.

Role for the country

The Seine is now an important navigable highway for France. Starting from the town of Trois, the river has the status of transport, because from this place downstream can be cruised ships, the draft of which is up to 1.3 meters. Ships with a draft of up to 6.5 meters pass to the port of Rouen. From the latter, navigation to the capital has been established, ships with drafts up to 3.2 meters can pass here. Due to the numerous artificial canals, the Seine is connected to other rivers. It should be noted and a large number of ports located on its shores. The largest of them are concentrated in the cities of Paris, Rouen and Le Havre. The role of the river for the whole of France is so important that it is unofficially called the 21st district of the capital (according to the officially approved administrative structure, there are 20 of them here).

Geographical location

The river Seine on the map conditionally divides the French capital into two parts, crossing it from the south-east to the west by a peculiar arc. The left bank is considered artistic and bohemian, and the right bank is a business center, where numerous administrative buildings, the royal residence of the Louvre, gardens, squares and many other buildings are located. On the river is also the historical center of Paris - the island of Cité. Outside the city, this waterway neatly rounds the famous Bois de Boulogne and then flows towards the Channel.

Bridges

The city on the River Seine is one of the most popular tourist centers around the world due to its numerous cultural sites. Without a doubt, they can be attributed to local bridges. In total, within Paris, over the Seine, they stretched 37. Some of the most beautiful are considered to be such ones as Notre Damme, Lesser and Louis Philippe, built several centuries ago. It should be noted and the fact that on this river, or rather, at its mouth, is the Normandy Bridge - one of the longest on the planet of suspended structures of this kind. Its length is 2350 meters, and the width is 23 meters.

Attractions in the Seine

The River Seine has many architectural monuments on its banks. Moving along the river on the ship, you can see the Louvre with a complex of museums, the Bourbon Palace, the Invalides' House, the D'Orsay Museum, as well as the Notre Dame de Paris, immortalized by Victor Hugo, built between the twelfth and the fourteenth century. The tourists descending on the river have a wonderful opportunity to see well on the left bank the world famous symbol of the city - the Eiffel Tower. It should be noted that the movement along the Seine is continuous. Ride and admire the beautiful city can be, using both small yachts and pleasure cruise ships. Unfortunately, this can not but affect the state of the river - the water here is heavily polluted.

Interesting Facts

With the Seine is associated a large number of interesting historical facts, legends and beliefs. In particular, it is believed that the ashes of Jeanne d'Arc burnt in 1431 were scattered over it. In addition, the River Seine was so loved by the national French hero Napoleon Bonaparte that he dreamed of being buried on its banks. However, his will was never executed.

In 1910, a major flood of Paris occurred, as a result of which the French capital was flooded almost completely. The cause of the catastrophe was the rise in the water level in the Seine in January by as much as six meters. Nothing of the kind has happened here since that time. In 1991, the Parisian banks of the river were introduced by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage sites, concentrated in Europe.

There are also unpleasant statistics related to the Seine. The fact that she is very popular among suicides, as well as criminals, throwing in her the bodies of their victims.