Creuse (river)
River in France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Creuse (French pronunciation: [kʁøz] ⓘ; Occitan: Cruesa) is a 263-kilometre (163 mi) long river in western France, a tributary of the Vienne.[1] Its source is in the Plateau de Millevaches, a north-western extension of the Massif Central.
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| Creuse | |
|---|---|
La Creuse in Argenton-sur-Creuse | |
 | |
| Native name | La Creuse (French) |
| Location | |
| Country | France |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Plateau de Millevaches |
| • elevation | 932 m (3,058 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Vienne |
• coordinates | 47°0′22″N 0°34′7″E |
| Length | 263 km (163 mi) |
| Basin size | 9,570 km2 (3,690 mi2) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 81 m3/s (2,900 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Vienne→ Loire→ Atlantic Ocean |
Course
The Creuse flows northwest through the following departments and towns:
- Creuse department (named after the river): Aubusson.
- Indre department: Argenton-sur-Creuse, Le Blanc.
- Indre-et-Loire department : Yzeures-sur-Creuse, Descartes
- Vienne department: La Roche-Posay
The Creuse flows into the Vienne about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Châtellerault. It receives its longest tributary, the Gartempe, in La Roche-Posay.
The Creuse valley is the setting for paintings by the so-called Crozant School, including works by Armand Guillaumin and a series of vivid landscapes by the Bordeaux artist Alfred Smith.[2]
Dams and lakes
There are six hydroelectric dams on the river. Three are in the Creuse département with one at Chambon-Sainte-Croix above Anzême, one at Les Chezelles near Le Bourg-d'Hem and one at L'Âge upstream of La Celle-Dunoise. The remaining three are in the Indre including the Éguzon Dam which was opened in 1926 and was, at the time, the largest dam in Europe.[citation needed] The lakes created by the dams are popular tourist destinations and several have artificial beaches and leisure facilities.[citation needed]
Main tributaries
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Left bank: |
Right bank:
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