Vire (river)
| Vire | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Vire at Pont-Farcy. | |
| Origin | Normandy |
| Mouth |
English Channel 49°21′24″N 1°7′13″W / 49.35667°N 1.12028°WCoordinates: 49°21′24″N 1°7′13″W / 49.35667°N 1.12028°W |
| Basin countries | France |
| Length | 128 km |
| Source elevation | 300 m |
| Basin area | 1,240 km² |
The Vire is a river in Normandy, France whose 128 km course crosses the départements of Calvados and Manche, flowing through the towns of Vire, Saint-Lô and Isigny-sur-Mer, finally flowing out into the English Channel.(Atlas, 2007)
The outflow of the Vire has been canalized and forms the port of Isigny-sur-Mer.
The poets of the Vire valley (Vau de Vire) are said to have given rise to vaudeville.
Places along the river:
- Calvados (14) : Vire, Pont-Farcy, Isigny-sur-Mer
- Manche (50) : Tessy-sur-Vire, Troisgots, Torigni-sur-Vire, Condé-sur-Vire, Sainte-Suzanne-sur-Vire, Saint-Lô, Rampan, Pont-Hébert, La Meauffe, Cavigny
Hydrology and water quality
The generally brownish waters of the Vire are moderately alkaline having been tested by Lumina Tech as pH 8.31. (Hogan, 2006) The river waters are relatively turbid, with a Secchi disc measurement of 12 centimetres.
Historical Significance
At the turn of the 10th century, the territorial lands of the Kingdom of Brittany had been expanded up to the Vire by their king Alan I.
References
- Atlas des Routes de France, Solar Press: Donnees IGN (2007
- Hogan, C. Michael, Water quality of freshwater bodies in France, Lumina Tech Press, Aberdeen, Scotland (2006)
- http://www.geoportail.fr
- The Vire at the Sandre database
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vire River. |