Béthune (river)

The Béthune (French pronunciation: [betyn] ^ⓘ) is a river of Normandy, France, 61 kilometres (38 mi) in length, flowing through the department of Seine-Maritime and it is a tributary of the Arques. However, Sandre, the regulators of France's national Water Information System, consider the Béthune to be the upper part of the Arques.^[1]

Béthune
Location
Country	France
Region	Normandy
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Gaillefontaine
• elevation	160 m (520 ft)
Mouth
• location	Arques
• coordinates	49°53′29″N 1°7′51″E
Length	61 km (38 mi)
Basin size	307 km2 (119 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	2.9 m3/s (100 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Arques→ English Channel

Geography

Arques and Béthune drainage basin

The river's source is at the village of Gaillefontaine near to Forges-les-Eaux. Its valley is wholly within the pays de Bray. Its course takes it past the communes of Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Mesnières-en-Bray, Bures-en-Bray, Osmoy-Saint-Valery, Saint-Vaast-d'Équiqueville, Dampierre-Saint-Nicolas, Saint-Aubin-le-Cauf and finally Arques-la-Bataille where it joins the rivers Eaulne and Varenne to form the Arques.

Like other rivers in the region, the Béthune is classified as a first class river, offering anglers the chance to catch salmon and trout.

See also

• French water management scheme