Aisne River
Encyclopedia
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in northeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, left tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the river Oise
Oise River
The River Oise is a right tributary of the River Seine, flowing for 302 km in Belgium and France. Its source is in the Belgian province Hainaut, south of the town Chimay. It crosses the border with France after about 20 km. It flows into the Seine in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, near Paris...
. It gave its name to the French département Aisne
Aisne
Aisne is a department in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River.- History :Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Île-de-France, Picardie, and Champagne.Most of the old...
. It was known in the Roman period as the Axona.
It rises in the forest of Argonne
Forest of Argonne
The Forest of Argonne is a long strip of rocky mountain and wild woodland in north-eastern France.In 1792 Charles François Dumouriez outmaneuvered the invading forces of the Duke of Brunswick in the forest before the Battle of Valmy....
, at Rembercourt-Sommaisne
Rembercourt-Sommaisne
Rembercourt-Sommaisne is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in northeastern France.-Geography:The Chée forms part of the commune's southern border.The Aisne rises near Sommaisne, a hamlet in the northern part of the commune....
, near Sainte-Menehould
Sainte-Menehould
Sainte-Menehould is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.The town and its several restaurants pride themselves on serving a local specialty called pied de cochon or pig's trotters....
. It flows north and then west before joining the Oise River
Oise River
The River Oise is a right tributary of the River Seine, flowing for 302 km in Belgium and France. Its source is in the Belgian province Hainaut, south of the town Chimay. It crosses the border with France after about 20 km. It flows into the Seine in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, near Paris...
near Compiègne
Compiègne
Compiègne is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.The city is located along the Oise River...
. The Aisne is about 290 kilometres (180.2 mi) long. Three bitter battles of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
were fought into the valleys of the Aisne.
Places along the river
Départements and towns along the river include:- MeuseMeuseMeuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
- MarneMarneMarne is a department in north-eastern France named after the river Marne which flows through the department. The prefecture of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne...
: Sainte-MenehouldSainte-MenehouldSainte-Menehould is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.The town and its several restaurants pride themselves on serving a local specialty called pied de cochon or pig's trotters.... - ArdennesArdennes (département)Ardennes is a department in the northeast part of France named after the Ardennes area.- History :The department is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was named after the Ardennes hills, which are located in northeast France, southern...
: VouziersVouziersVouziers is a commune of the Ardennes department in northern France.Vouziers is the burial place of the pioneer First World War fighter pilot Roland Garros, from whom the tennis location is named....
, Rethel - AisneAisneAisne is a department in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River.- History :Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Île-de-France, Picardie, and Champagne.Most of the old...
: SoissonsSoissonsSoissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones... - OiseOiseOise is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise.-History:Oise is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
: CompiègneCompiègneCompiègne is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.The city is located along the Oise River...
Navigation
Small boats can travel much of the length of the river. Canals join the Aisne to the SeineSeine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
and Meuse
Meuse River
The Maas or Meuse is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea...
rivers. In the small-capacity network of waterways, the Aisne and the Canal latéral à l'Aisne
Canal latéral à l'Aisne
The Canal latéral à l'Aisne is a canal in northern France, which connects Vieux-lès-Asfeld to Condé-sur-Aisne. It runs alongside the Aisne River...
(Aisne lateral canal) give access to the agricultural towns of Soissons
Soissons
Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
and Vailly-sur-Aisne, both large exporters of cereals. The waterway also links Northwestern Europe to the small inland harbour of Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, where metallurgical industries are depending on inland waterways transport. The Aisne is connected to the rest of the network by the Oise river, the Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne
Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne
The Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne is a summit level canal in northern France about 100km NNE of Paris. It connects the Canal latéral à l'Aisne at Abbécourt to the Canal latéral à l'Oise at Bourg-et-Comin...
the Canal des Ardennes
Canal des Ardennes
The canal des Ardennes is an long canal which connects the Meuse and the Aisne valleys, in the Ardennes department, in northeastern France. It was built from 1827 to 1831.- Notes :...
and the Canal de l'Aisne à la Marne
Canal de l'Aisne à la Marne
The canal de l’Aisne à la Marne is an 58.1 km long canal which connects the Aisne and the Marne valleys. It runs from Berry-au-Bac to Condé-sur-Marne, in northeastern France. It was completed in 1866 and rebuilt after being entirely destroyed during World War I.- Notes :*This article is based...
. (Source: NoorderSoft Waterways Database)
Canalized portion
A 57.1 km (35.5 mi) portion of the river, with 7 locks, has been canalized, from Vailly-sur-AisneVailly-sur-Aisne
Vailly-sur-Aisne is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
to Compiègne
Compiègne
Compiègne is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.The city is located along the Oise River...
. It is the westernmost segment of the Aisne River
Aisne River
The Aisne is a river in northeastern France, left tributary of the river Oise. It gave its name to the French département Aisne. It was known in the Roman period as the Axona....
. On the western end, it terminates into the Canal latéral à l'Oise
Canal latéral à l'Oise
The Canal latéral à l'Oise is a canal in northern France that, along with the River Oise, connects the Canal de Saint-Quentin at Chauny to the Seine at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine....
. On the eastern end, it continues into the Canal latéral à l'Aisne
Canal latéral à l'Aisne
The Canal latéral à l'Aisne is a canal in northern France, which connects Vieux-lès-Asfeld to Condé-sur-Aisne. It runs alongside the Aisne River...
.
En route
PK is continuation of numbering from Canal latéral à l'AisneCanal latéral à l'Aisne
The Canal latéral à l'Aisne is a canal in northern France, which connects Vieux-lès-Asfeld to Condé-sur-Aisne. It runs alongside the Aisne River...
from east to west.
- PK 51.5 begins with ending of Canal latéral à l'AisneCanal latéral à l'AisneThe Canal latéral à l'Aisne is a canal in northern France, which connects Vieux-lès-Asfeld to Condé-sur-Aisne. It runs alongside the Aisne River...
- PK 64.5 Villeneuve-Saint-GermainVilleneuve-Saint-GermainVilleneuve-Saint-Germain is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
- PK 67 SoissonsSoissonsSoissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
- PK 79 FontenoyFontenoyFontenoy may refer to:*Battle of Fontenoy *Battle of Fontenay *Fontenoy by Liam Mac Cóil-Places:Belgium:*Fontenoy, a village in the municipality of Antoing, BelgiumSeveral communes in France:*Fontenoy, in the Aisne département...
- PK 85 Vic-sur-AisneVic-sur-AisneVic-sur-Aisne is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It is located approximately 100 kilometres northeast of Paris.-Population:-References:*...
- PK 92 CouloisyCouloisyCouloisy is a small village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise....
- PK 104.5 Choisy-au-BacChoisy-au-BacChoisy-au-Bac is a town in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.-References:*...
- PK 108 CompiègneCompiègneCompiègne is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.The city is located along the Oise River...
Ends in T-junction with Canal latéral à l'OiseCanal latéral à l'OiseThe Canal latéral à l'Oise is a canal in northern France that, along with the River Oise, connects the Canal de Saint-Quentin at Chauny to the Seine at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine....
See also
- Canal latéral à l'AisneCanal latéral à l'AisneThe Canal latéral à l'Aisne is a canal in northern France, which connects Vieux-lès-Asfeld to Condé-sur-Aisne. It runs alongside the Aisne River...
- Battle of the AisneBattle of the AisneThe Battle of the Aisne is the name of three battles fought along the Aisne River in northern France during the First World War.*First Battle of the Aisne - Anglo-French counter-offensive following the First Battle of the Marne....
- Battle of the AxonaBattle of the AxonaThe Battle of the Axona was fought in 57 BC, between the Roman army of Gaius Julius Caesar and the Belgae. The Belgae, led by King Galba of Suessiones, attacked, only to be repelled by Caesar. Fearing an ambush, the Romans delayed their pursuit...
- Rivers of France
- Chemin des DamesChemin des DamesIn France, the Chemin des Dames is part of the D18 and runs east and west in the département of Aisne, between in the west, the Route Nationale 2, and in the east, the D1044 at Corbeny. It is some thirty kilometres long and runs along a ridge between the valleys of the rivers Aisne and Ailette...