Vilaine
| Vilaine | |
|---|---|
 The Vilaine in Bourg-des-Comptes. | |
| Origin |
Juvigné, Mayenne 48°13′46″N 01°03′11″W / 48.22944°N 1.05306°W |
| Mouth |
Atlantic Ocean 47°30′20″N 2°29′57″W / 47.50556°N 2.49917°WCoordinates: 47°30′20″N 2°29′57″W / 47.50556°N 2.49917°W |
| Basin countries | France |
| Length | 218.1 km |
| Source elevation | 175 m |
| Avg. discharge | 80 m³/s |
| Basin area | 10,882 km² |
The Vilaine (Breton: Gwilen) is a river in Brittany, in the west of France. The river's source is in the Mayenne département (53), and flows out in the Atlantic Ocean at Pénestin in the Morbihan département (56). It is 218 km long. The river is joined to the Rance by means of the Canal d'Ille-et-Rance by the commune of Évran.
Course of the river
The river passes through 4 départements (Mayenne, Ille-et-Vilaine, Loire-Atlantique and Morbihan) and 4 main towns (Rennes, Vitré, Redon and La Roche-Bernard).
Three barrages were built around Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine to avoid floods, the drinkable water and leisure spaces:
- 1978 Valière barrage
- 1982 Haute-Vilaine barrage
- 1995 Villaumur barrage
Hydrology
The river has a flow ranging between 2 and 1500 m3/s
Navigation
The Vilaine is part of Brittany's canal system. The section from Rennes to the Atlantic Ocean is navigable for smaller craft. In Rennes the river connects to the Canal d'Ille et Rance, in Redon it crosses the Canal de Nantes à Brest. (Source: NoorderSoft Waterways Database)
Main tributaries
References
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