Sèvre Nantaise

The Sèvre Nantaise (French pronunciation: [sɛvʁ nɑ̃tɛz]) is a river in the Pays de la Loire regions in western France. It is a left-bank tributary of the Loire. Its total length is 141.8 km (88.1 mi).^[1] Its source is in the Deux-Sèvres department, near Secondigny. It flows from south to north through the departments and towns listed here, reaching the river Loire in the city of Nantes. That city gives it the name Sèvre Nantaise, distinguishing it from the Sèvre Niortaise further south. Its longest tributaries are the Moine and the Petite Maine.^[1]

Sèvre Nantaise
The Sèvre Nantaise, near Tiffauges
Native name	La Sèvre nantaise (French)
Location
Country	France
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Deux-Sèvres
• elevation	215 m (705 ft)
Mouth
• location	Loire
• coordinates	47°11′46″N 1°32′49″W
Length	141.8 km (88.1 mi)
Basin size	2,356 km2 (910 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	9.5 m3/s (340 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Loire→ Atlantic Ocean

Departments and communes along its course

This list is ordered from source to mouth:

• Deux-Sèvres: Moncoutant, La Forêt-sur-Sèvre
• Vendée: Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, Mortagne-sur-Sèvre, Tiffauges
• Maine-et-Loire: Sèvremoine
• Loire-Atlantique: Clisson, Le Pallet, Vertou, Rezé, Nantes

The complete list is on the French page for this river.

Navigation

The river is navigable over a length of 21.5 km (13.4 mi) from the village of Monnières to the confluence. It has a horseshoe weir (Chaussée Des Moines) and lock at Vertou, and a tidal sluice open to boats an hour before and after high tide at Pont-Rousseau, in the suburbs of Nantes.^{[citation needed]} The river is an important resource for tourism in the region. Beyond the navigable section, the river is a popular destination for canoeists.^{[citation needed]}

Its left-bank tributary the Petite Maine is also navigable over a length of 6 km (3.7 mi), up to the first disused lock and weir.

References

1. Sandre. "Fiche cours d'eau - Sèvre Nantaise (M7--0240)".

• Edwards-May, David, Inland Waterways of France (2010), Imray Ltd., St Ives, Cambs., UK, p. 284
• Sèvre Nantaise with further details by the author of 'Inland Waterways of France'
• Navigation details for 80 French rivers and canals (French waterways website section)