Vire (river)

Vire

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.[1]

Places along the river:

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

  1. Burke, James (September 2, 2003). An Invisible Object (Connections3 DVD). Ambrose Video Publishing, Inc.
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