Seine

The Seine is a big river in France.

It starts in a place called Source-Seine. From there, it flows through the city of Paris.

Many boats sail on the water. Some boats carry people on tours. Large ships can also travel on it. There are 37 bridges in Paris. These bridges cross over the water. The river flows into the sea. It is a very busy and pretty place.

The Seine is a major river in northern France.

It begins at a place called Source-Seine. This spot is northwest of a city called Dijon. The river flows through the busy city of Paris. It eventually reaches the English Channel at Le Havre.

Many boats use the river. Large ships can sail from the sea as far as Rouen. Many other boats carry people on sightseeing tours. In Paris, there are 37 bridges that cross the water. Some famous bridges are Pont Alexandre III and Pont Neuf.

The river has changed over time. In the past, the water was not very clean. This made it unsafe to swim in. People had to move art out of Paris during big floods.

Now, there is a big plan to clean the water. This plan helps the fish. Long ago, there were only a few types of fish. Today, there are over 30 types of fish in the river. In 2025, people could swim in the Seine again after a long ban.

The Seine is a major river in northern France.

It sits within the Paris Basin, which is a large lowland area. The river starts at a place called Source-Seine. This spot is located northwest of the city of Dijon. From there, the water flows through the famous city of Paris. Eventually, the river reaches the English Channel at Le Havre.

Traveling on the Seine is a very popular activity. Large ocean-going ships can sail from the sea as far as Rouen. Many other boats, like big barges, use the river for work. Most tour boats also travel along the water to show people the banks. In the city of Paris, there are 37 different bridges. Some of the most famous bridges are Pont Alexandre III and Pont Neuf.

The river has a very long and interesting history. Its name comes from a Celtic goddess named Sequana. People found statues of her at the river's source long ago. In the 1800s, people built locks to help boats move easier. These locks help lift vessels to the level of the river in Paris. Before these were built, the river was much shallower in the city. It used to have sandy banks along the edges.

Nature and people both interact with the Seine in many ways. The river's basin covers a huge area of land. Most of this land is used for farming. There are also large reservoirs built to help control the water. Sometimes, the river can flood the city during heavy rain. In 1910, a very big flood happened in Paris. During floods, people even move art to keep it safe.

For a long time, the water in the Seine was not clean. This made it unsafe for people to swim. However, big cleanup plans started in recent years. These plans helped the water become much better for living things. In the past, there were only a few types of fish. Now, there are over 30 different species of fish.

In 2025, the river finally reopened for swimming after a 100-year ban.

The Seine is a major river located in northern France.

It flows through the Paris Basin, which is a large geological lowland. The river rises at a location called Source-Seine, northwest of the city of Dijon. From this starting point, the water flows through Paris and eventually reaches the English Channel at Le Havre.

The river is a vital part of the region's geography and economy. It serves as a major route for both transport and recreation.

Engineers have divided the Seine into five distinct sections to describe its course. The Petite Seine, or "Small Seine," runs from the source to Montereau-Fault-Yonne. Next is the Haute Seine, known as the "Upper Seine," which flows from Montereau-Fault-Yonne to Paris. The middle section is called the Traversée de Paris, or the "Paris waterway." Below the capital, the Basse Seine, or "Lower Seine," flows from Paris to Rouen. Finally, the Seine maritime runs from Rouen to the English Channel.

Navigation on the Seine is made possible by several technical features. The river is only above sea level from its mouth, which makes it slow-flowing. This slow movement makes it easier for ships to navigate. Ocean-going vessels can dock at Rouen, but they cannot go further upstream. To help boats move through different elevations, many locks have been installed. The Basse Seine section uses four large multiple locks. In the Haute Seine, there are eight locks to manage the water levels. Smaller locks at Bougival and Suresnes lift vessels to the level of the river in Paris.

The history of the Seine is deeply connected to the people of France. The river's name likely comes from the Gaullish word for a Celtic goddess named Sequana. Archaeologists found statues of this goddess at the river's source. In the 1800s, the river's appearance changed significantly due to human engineering. Before locks were installed, the river was much shallower within Paris. It consisted of a small channel of flowing water bordered by sandy banks. Today, the depth in Paris is tightly controlled at approximately 9.5 meters.

Managing the river is essential because of the risk of flooding. Since 1950, four large storage reservoirs have been built to help control water levels. These include Lac d’Orient, Lac des Settons, Lake Der-Chantecoq, and Auzon-Temple et Amance. These dams help maintain a constant level, but they cannot stop extreme runoff. Severe flooding has occurred many times, such as in January 1910. During the 2003 flood alert, about 100,000 works of art were moved to keep them safe. A worst-case flood scenario could cost 10 billion euros and disrupt electricity and gas for many people.

The water quality of the Seine has faced many challenges over the last century. Because of industry, farming, and the large population in Paris, the river experiences high human impact. In the past, the river suffered from low oxygen levels and high amounts of bacteria. By 1970, about 60% of urban sewage flowed into the river untreated. This pollution was so bad that the number of fish species dropped to only three. However, new laws and wastewater treatment plants have helped the environment recover.

Recent efforts have focused on making the Seine safe for people again. A massive 1.4 billion euro cleanup called the "Swimming Plan" began in 2018. This project included building a basin to store rainwater and prevent sewage from overflowing into the river. These efforts have been very successful for wildlife. The number of fish species near Paris has grown from just a few to 32. In July 2025, the Seine finally reopened for public swimming. This ended a ban on swimming that had lasted for almost 100 years.