Vienne (river)

Vienne

The Vienne in Limoges.
Other name(s) Occitan: La Vinhana
Country France
Basin features
Main source Plateau de Millevaches
880 m (2,890 ft)
River mouth Loire
47°12′45″N 0°4′31″E / 47.21250°N 0.07528°E / 47.21250; 0.07528 (Loire-Vienne)Coordinates: 47°12′45″N 0°4′31″E / 47.21250°N 0.07528°E / 47.21250; 0.07528 (Loire-Vienne)
Progression Loire→ Atlantic Ocean
Basin size 21,105 km2 (8,149 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length 363 km (226 mi)
Discharge
  • Average rate:
    203 m3/s (7,200 cu ft/s)
The Vienne in wooded landscape near Peyrelevade, close to its source on the Millevaches Massif.

The Vienne (Occitan: Vinhana) is one of the most important rivers in south-western France. It is a significant left tributary of the lower Loire. It supports numerous hydro-electric dams, and it is the main river of the Limousin region and also of the eastern part of the Poitou-Charentes region.

Two French departments are named after the Vienne: Haute-Vienne (87) in the Limousin region and Vienne (86) in the Poitou-Charentes region.

Course

The Vienne rises as a spring in the department of Corrèze, at the foot of Mont Audouze, on the Plateau de Millevaches, near Peyrelevade. It then flows roughly west to the city of Limoges where it once played a major role in the famous Limoges porcelain industry. A little way after Limoges it takes a turn to the north. En route to its confluence with the Loire, the Vienne is joined by the rivers Creuse and Clain. Finally, after a journey of 372 km it reaches the Loire at Candes-Saint-Martin in the department of Indre-et-Loire.

The Vienne flows through the following departments and towns:

Tributaries include:

References

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