From ancient times, people settled on the river banks. The Seine River in Paris was no exception, where a tribe of Gauls, known as the Parisians, appeared approximately in the third century BC. It should be noted that an important trade waterway passed through it, connecting the east with the Atlantic.
Origin of the name
There are several versions regarding the origin of the name of this reservoir. One of the most common is that the Seine River is named after the Latin word "Sequana", which means "sacred river". However, some historians argue that the name is of Gallic origin. They suggest that this is a modified name for the Yonne River, of which, according to the Gauls, the Seine was a tributary. In the lower reaches, on the territory of Normandy, earlier this water stream was generally called "Rodo" - in honor of the plain of the same name.
General Description
The Seine River stretches for 776 kilometers. It originates in Burgundy (a province in the eastern part of France), in the region of the Langres plateau, which rises above the levelsea at 471 meters. It flows mainly through the northern French lowlands, through the Paris Basin. In the immediate vicinity of Paris, it makes a lot of all kinds of winding turns. Not far from the city, Le Havre flows into one of the bays of the English Channel. The largest tributary of the Seine is the Oise. In addition to it, the Marne and Ob flow here on the right, and Yonne on the left. The total area of the basin is almost 79 thousand km22.
Be that as it may, the Seine is replenished mainly due to 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 rise in water level. The slope of the Seine is just over 60 centimeters for every kilometer. In general, it can be described as a full-flowing river with a steady level and a calm flow.
Role for country
The Seine is now an important shipping route for France. Starting from the town of Troyes, the river has the status of a transport one, because ships with a draft of up to 1.3 meters can run downstream from this place. Ships with a draft of up to 6.5 meters pass to the port of Rouen. From the latter, shipping to the capital has been established; ships with a draft of up to 3.2 meters can pass here. Due to numerous artificial channels, the Seine is connected to other rivers. Not to mention the 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 soimportant that it is unofficially called the 21st district of the capital (according to the officially approved administrative structure, there are 20 of them here).
Geographic location
The Seine River on the map conditionally divides the French capital into two parts, crossing it from southeast to west in a kind of arc. The left bank is considered artistic and bohemian, and the right bank is considered the business center, where numerous administrative buildings, the Louvre royal residence, gardens, squares and many other buildings are located. The historic center of Paris, the Ile de la Cité, is also located on the river. Outside the city, this waterway neatly skirts the famous Bois de Boulogne and then flows towards the English Channel.
Bridges
The city on the River Seine is one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide thanks to its many cultural sites. Without a doubt, local bridges can also be attributed to them. In total, 37 of them stretched across the Seine within Paris. Some of the most beautiful are such as Notre Dame, Petit and Louis Philippe, built several centuries ago. It should also be noted that on this river, or rather, at its mouth, there is the Normandy Bridge - one of the longest suspension structures of this kind on the planet. It is 2350 meters long and 23 meters wide.
Sights on the Seine
The Seine River has many architectural monuments on its banks. Moving downstream on a boatyou can see the Louvre, along with a complex of museums, the Bourbon Palace, Les Invalides, the Musée d'Orsay, as well as the Notre Dame Cathedral immortalized by Victor Hugo, built in the period from the twelfth to the fourteenth century. Tourists going down the river have a great opportunity to have a good look at the world-famous symbol of the city - the Eiffel Tower on the left bank. It should be noted that traffic on the Seine is continuous. You can ride and admire the beautiful city using both small yachts and pleasure cruise ships. Unfortunately, this cannot but affect the state of the river - the water here is heavily polluted.
Interesting facts
A large number of interesting historical facts, legends and beliefs are associated with the Seine. In particular, it is believed that the ashes of Jeanne d'Arc, who was burned in 1431, were scattered over her. In addition, the Seine River was so loved by the national French hero Napoleon Bonaparte that he dreamed of being buried on its banks. However, his will was never carried out.
In 1910, there was a great Paris flood, as a result of which the French capital was almost completely flooded. The cause of the disaster was the rise in the water level in the Seine in January by as much as six meters. Nothing like this has happened since then. In 1991, the Parisian banks of the river were included by UNESCO in the list of world heritage sites concentrated in Europe.
There are also unpleasant statistics associated with the Seine. The fact is that it is very popular amongsuicides, as well as criminals throwing the bodies of their victims into it.
