Geography of Haute-Marne

General information

The department draws its name from the Marne, river which takes its source close to Langres. This river traverses it on more than 120 kilometers.

It is located at the east of the Paris basin and is characterized by a concentric continuation of Fronts of coasts whose geological nature varies (Crétacé with the alluvia quaternary) and directed north-eastern/south-western.

The south of the department is largely occupied by the plate of Langres, where the culminating point of Haute-Marne is (Top of Dryness - 516 meters). It is then being épanchant towards the center to finish towards the plains of the Perthois and DER, where its points are low (Puellemontier - 117 meters).

Countries

Haute-Marne, artificial creation, are a regrouping of microphone-areas to the very diversified geographical characteristics of which most important are:

  • the Amance - Apance, with south-east very undulating,

  • the Bassigny, immense depression wet enters the dimensions of Lorraine and the plate of Langres,

  • the Barrois, together of plates with weak arable layer,

  • the Perthois, very fertile areas of alluvia.

Hydrology

These faces of coasts are largely notched by an important hydrographic network. Haute-Marne is regarded as the water tower of the North-East of France. One counts thus approximately 500 rivers and brooks which run on more than 2300 kilometers.

It gives rise to a European river: the Meuse which takes its source with Pouilly in Bassigny.

Affluents of the the Seine (which takes its source in extreme cases of the departments of Haute-Marne and the Coast-D' Gold), the Marne and the Aube are also born on the plate langrois.

About fifteen kilometers separate the source from the Marne from that from the Vingeanne. If water of the first will lead in finality in the Manche, those of the second, tributary from the the Saone thus indirectly of the the Rhone, will be found in the Mediterranean: Langres is thus located on a watershed.

To the many ponds come to be added the artificial tanks. Those of Langres (Villegusien, the Fly, Bind it and Charms) were create at the 19th century to feed the channel of the Marne in the Saone. The Lake of DER, near Saint-Dizier, is used for the regulation of the Marne. With its 4800 hectares, it is more artificial big lake of Europe.

Nature

Haute-Marne east covered to 40% of its territory by forests, is a little more than 250.000 hectares. It is, in surface, the 9th department most wooded of France.

Certain solid masses exceed the 10.000 hectares (Châteauvillain, Arc-in-Barrois). The two gasolines which dominate are the Chêne and the Hêtre.

Fauna is abundant there: big games, deer tribe. The important network of tracks farm, discovered and excursion often allows the discovery of these animals. Huntings are famous because profitable there.

From a floristic point of view, the department is famous to be the ground of the wild Orchidées: more than 30 species were given there, of which the famous Sabot of Venus.

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