Native name La Vilaine Length 218 km Basin area 10,882 km² | Discharge 80 m³/s Mouth Atlantic Ocean | |
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Main source Juvigné, Mayenne175 m (574 ft) Basin size 10,882 km (4,202 sq mi) Bridges Pont de la Roche-Bernard, Pont Pasteur | ||
The Vilaine (Breton: Gwilen) is a river in Brittany, in the west of France. The river's source is in the Mayenne département (53), and flows out in the Atlantic Ocean at Pénestin in the Morbihan département (56). It is 218 km long. The river is joined to the Ille and the Rance by means of the Canal d'Ille-et-Rance by the commune of Rennes.
Contents
Map of La Vilaine, France
Course of the river
The river passes through 4 départements (Mayenne, Ille-et-Vilaine, Loire-Atlantique and Morbihan) and 4 main towns (Rennes, Vitré, Redon and La Roche-Bernard).
Three barrages were built around Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine to avoid floods, the drinkable water and leisure spaces:
Hydrology
The river has a flow ranging between 2 and 1500 m3/s
Navigation
The Vilaine is part of Brittany's canal system. The section from Rennes to the Atlantic Ocean is navigable for smaller craft. In Rennes the river connects to the Canal d'Ille et Rance, in Redon it crosses the Canal de Nantes à Brest. (Source: NoorderSoft Waterways Database)