France is one of the most important countries in Europe and the French monarchy is regarded as one of the most influential royal families of the era.The country is filled with some incredible locales. Among these are the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Rhône valley, and the Maine-et-Loire, you will be spoilt for choice.The rivers of France are equally important to the economy of the country since earlier years. France is located in western Europe, bordered by the Bay of Biscay (North Atlantic Ocean) in the west, by the English Channel in the northwest, and by the North Sea in the north. It shares maritime borders with the United Kingdom.In France, there are two words for rivers, those that flow into the oceans and seas are known as ‘un fleuve’, and those that flow into another river or water bodies are known as ‘une Riviere’. France has an extensive network of inland waterways in rivers and canals, which helps in transportation at a cheap cost.France has more than 100 rivers. However, there are a few main rivers. The Rhone River is 340 mi (547 km) long and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. It flows along the whole southeast of France from north to south. Its tributaries are the rivers Saone, Isere, Durance and Ain. The Seine River is 485 mi (780.5 km) and flows into the English Channel. It flows northwest to southeast across northern France. Its main tributaries are Aube, Yonne, Marne, Oise, and Eure rivers.The Loire River is 629 mi (1,012.2 km) long and is the longest river that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Aube river flows from the Langres plateau. It flows from east to west, south of Paris. The river is also UNESCO-listed in the Loire Valley. Its tributaries are the Allier River, the Cher, Sarthe, Creuse, Vienne, and Loire rivers. The Garonne River is 403 mi (648.5 km) long that flows into the Gironde Estuary then into the Atlantic Ocean. It drives past northwestern France from west to east.The 302 mi (486 km) long Dordogne River first joins the Gironde Estuary and then flows into the Atlantic Ocean. It flows west to east across the southwest region of France to the north of Garonne and enters the Atlantic Ocean at Bordeaux. The Rhine River is 769 mi (1237.5 km) long, but only 117.5 mi (189 km) is in France and flows into the North Sea. Some other French rivers are the Roya River in southeast France which is only 37.5 mi (60.3 km) long, and the Tet River in the eastern Pyrenees that flows in the Mediterranean Sea.The Seine is regarded as one of the most important marine traffic highways in Paris, France. The Seine passes through Paris, the capital city of the country. It connects the sea with the prominent seaport of Le Havre giving a huge boost to the economy of the country.Read on to know more interesting facts about the most prominent rivers of France. Afterward, also check out facts about famous people died at Alamo and famous Poe poems that kids will surely enjoy.The Most Important Rivers In FranceThe rivers of France hold great significance in the economy of the country. But do you know which are the most important rivers of France? Here are some interesting facts to tell you more about the rivers of France.There are more than 100 rivers in France, but many are short, with only 301 mi (484.4 km) in length. The longest is the Loire River, and the shortest is the Veules River.There are four principal rivers in France, namely the Loire River, Rhone River, Seine River, and Garonne River. Many beautiful villages and vineyards produce sauvignon blanc along one or two rivers in France.The longest river in France, the Loire, flows from the south to the north into the Atlantic Ocean. The river rises in the south-eastern region of France at 4,455 ft (1,357.8 m) above sea level.The river’s upper course flows north to Orleans and then west until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean. The river basin has an oceanic climate with heavy precipitation, mild winters, and cool summers.The Seine River is 485 mi (780.5 km) long, making it the second-longest river and flowing into the English Channel. It is at a height of 1,555 ft (474 m) above sea level.Many famous paintings have been inspired by it such as Monet’s Bathers at La Grenouillère and Renoir’s Seine River at Asnieres.The Rhone River is the only major river that flows directly to the Mediterranean Sea. It is 870 mi (1,400 km) long, making it the third-longest river in France.The Rhone valley has long attracted tourism which has played a vital role in the region’s economy since the mid-20th century. An exciting discovery in the river is that in 2007, an ancient bust of Julius Caesar was found in the Rhone River.The Garonne River is one of the essential French rivers used for inland shipping. It rises in Spain, enters France from the north, and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.The Garonne passes through southwestern France. It is famous because of the Canal du Midi, a two seas canal that has also been listed in UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1996. It is the fourth-longest river in France, being 330 mi (531 km) long.The Rhine River is 769 mi (1237.5 km) long, making it among the longest rivers in Europe. But since only 117.5 mi (189 km) of its length flows through the French territory, it comes under the list of short rivers in France.The Largest River In FranceDo you know which is the largest river in France? Here are some interesting facts related to the largest river in France.Some famous rivers in France include river Loire, river Seine, river Rhone, river Garonne, river Marne, river Meuse, river Lot, river Dordogne, river Saone, river Doubs, river Allier, river Charente, river Tarn, and river Cher.Some significant rivers also play an essential role in navigation and inland shipping.The Loire River is the biggest in France by length. The lands surrounding it form the Loire valley, an attractive spot for visitors.The Domaine de Beauvois castle is an establishment where most overnight visitors spend their night, and it has also been renovated with contemporary technologies, including a swimming pool.The Rhone River is the biggest in terms of depth and volume. Though navigation is not as simple as in other rivers because of swift current, it is still an important waterway for tourism and commerce.The Seine River is the biggest in terms of popularity and name recognition. The river divides Paris into the Left Bank or Rive Gauche and the Right Bank, or Rive Droite, as it drives through the middle of the city.The Garonne River originates in the Pyrenees, enters the French region, and joins Dordogne. These two rivers become the Gironde River which has the biggest estuary, not just in France but also in Europe.The Loire River SignificanceIn terms of length, the Loire River is the longest that flows through more than 20% of its land area. The river has given names to six regions of France, and it is the world’s 171st river in the list of longest rivers. Here well will discuss the important aspects related to the Loire River.The Loire River got listed on UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 2, 2000. In the mid-section of the river, the Loire valley is known as the ‘Garden of France’ because of its beauty and abundant vineyards, orchards, and agriculture. It is rich in algae with more than 100 species. It is also home to some of the most sought-after wine grapes.The valley has many lakes, pools, and riverside beaches which are primarily family-friendly and have good facilities.Until the 18th century, the river was vital for France’s commerce. However, later in the 19th-century, railways developed, replacing them.The Loire River is the only river in western Europe that has never been canalized, and this is why it is called ’the last wild river in Europe’. The valley also got a cultural blow-up that began in the 16th century.The La Manche ImportanceThe English Channel is around 350 mi (563.2 km) long, and the width varies from 21-150 mi (33.7-241.4 km) in the Strait of Dover. The channel was first crossed by John Jeffries and Jean-Pierre Blanchard using a hot air balloon in 1785.La Manche is the busiest shipping area in the world as it links the economies of northern Europe with the rest of the world. It serves more than 500 ships daily and accounts for up to 20% of global maritime trades.The channel has also been a spot for tourism because of its favorable climate, sandy beaches, and availability of facilities. Even back in the 18th and 19th centuries, there were fashionable resorts in the coastal areas such as Deauville (France) and Brighton (England).The English Channel being in the Atlantic Ocean serves immense importance to many countries and continents. It has had its significance since it was discovered and still has today.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for famous rivers in France then why not take a look at famous rivers in Europe or major rivers in Argentina that you will surely enjoy!
France is one of the most important countries in Europe and the French monarchy is regarded as one of the most influential royal families of the era.
