Shaped by the Seine

Neither the longest nor strongest of France’s five major rivers, the winding Seine has had a profound impact on the country’s history and culture. Stretching from the hills of Burgundy to the English Channel, its watershed is home to nearly 30 percent of the French population. A stage for brutal battles and an evocative setting for some of the world’s most famed artists, the Seine is now inspiring a new generation to follow its path to a cleaner, greener future.

The Seine and the sea As the health of the river improves, a nature reserve at the estuary, in an area surrounded by industry, is welcoming seals and 350 species of birds. A port for the centuries Rouen, the farthest inland that oceangoing vessels can travel, has been a shipping hub since the age of the Romans. Proximity to agricultural fields makes it a key port for farmers. Paris: city of abundance Rome’s Lutetia Parisiorum developed into the capital city in the middle of the Seine’s drainage network, part of one of western Europe’s most fertile regions. Feeding into the Seine The easily navigable Seine is joined by 45 tributaries along its 483-mile length, the largest of which are the Aube, Marne, Oise, and powerful Yonne. Owning the source Bubbling to the surface from small springs in Burgundy’s low…

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National Geographic (Digital) - 1 Issue, August 2024

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