Seine

san, the chief river of France. It rises in the historic region of Burgundy and flows, in general, northwestward into the English channel at Havre. Its valley is a region rich in grain, orchards, and wine. The river was known to the Romans as the Sequana, the inhabitants as the Sequani. The Seine is connected by a network of canals with the Loire, the Saone, the Rhone, and the Rhine. Its total length is about 482 miles. It is navigable for sea vessels as far as Rouen, and for smaller vessels to Paris. Small boats may ascend still higher. Troyes, Fontainebleau, St. Denis, St. Cloud, Sevres, Versailles, St. Germain, Rouen, Havre, and other historic cities and towns situated on its banks are the subjects of separate articles. The lower valley of the Seine formed the large province of Normandy. Below Paris the Seine is noted for its beautiful scenery.