Canal de la Somme
Encyclopedia
The Canal de la Somme is a canal in northern France. Until 2005, it joined the English Channel
at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
to the Canal de Saint-Quentin
at St. Simon
. The Somme River was canalized beginning in 1770. The 54 km section from St. Simon
to Bray
was completed by 1772, but the rest was not finished until 1843.
The length and number of locks varies by who is describing the canal: and 21 locks from Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
to Péronne
. and 25 locks from St. Simon
to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
.
Some of this difference of opinion is certainly caused by the fact that the canal is made of two segments, the Grande Somme and the Petite Somme. These two segments are separated by a 20 km section of the Canal du Nord
with two locks. The Grande Somme is 120 km with 19 locks from English Channel
at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
to Canal du Nord
at Péronne
. The Petite Somme from the Canal du Nord
at Voyennes
to the Canal de Saint-Quentin
at St. Simon
was closed to traffic in 2005.
In the 1960s, more than 300,000 tonnes of goods were transported on the canal. Today it is used largely by pleasure boats.
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is a commune in the Somme department. The village is a popular tourist destination because of its medieval character and ramparts, Gothic church and long waterside boardwalk.-Geography:...
to the Canal de Saint-Quentin
Canal de Saint-Quentin
The Canal de Saint-Quentin is a canal in northern France connecting the canalised Escaut River in Cambrai to the Canal latéral à l'Oise and Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne in Chauny-History:...
at St. Simon
Saint-Simon, Aisne
Saint-Simon is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
. The Somme River was canalized beginning in 1770. The 54 km section from St. Simon
Saint-Simon, Aisne
Saint-Simon is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
to Bray
Bray-sur-Somme
Bray-sur-Somme is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The communes is situated on the D1 and D329 road junction, some east-northeast of Amiens....
was completed by 1772, but the rest was not finished until 1843.
The length and number of locks varies by who is describing the canal: and 21 locks from Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is a commune in the Somme department. The village is a popular tourist destination because of its medieval character and ramparts, Gothic church and long waterside boardwalk.-Geography:...
to Péronne
Péronne, Somme
Péronne is a commune of the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.It is close to where the Battles of the Somme took place during World War I...
. and 25 locks from St. Simon
Saint-Simon, Aisne
Saint-Simon is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is a commune in the Somme department. The village is a popular tourist destination because of its medieval character and ramparts, Gothic church and long waterside boardwalk.-Geography:...
.
- Three segments made up of:
- 14.2 km (8.8 mi) and 1 lock from Saint-Valery-sur-SommeSaint-Valery-sur-SommeSaint-Valery-sur-Somme is a commune in the Somme department. The village is a popular tourist destination because of its medieval character and ramparts, Gothic church and long waterside boardwalk.-Geography:...
to AbbevilleAbbevilleAbbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
, - 105.6 km (65.6 mi) and 18 locks from AbbevilleAbbevilleAbbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
to PéronnePéronne, SommePéronne is a commune of the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.It is close to where the Battles of the Somme took place during World War I...
, - 16.4 km (10.2 mi) and 4 locks from VoyennesVoyennesVoyennes is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Voyennes is situated 30 miles west of Amiens, on the D417 road in the valley of the Somme River.-Population:-External links:*...
to St. SimonSaint-Simon, AisneSaint-Simon is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
.
- 14.2 km (8.8 mi) and 1 lock from Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Some of this difference of opinion is certainly caused by the fact that the canal is made of two segments, the Grande Somme and the Petite Somme. These two segments are separated by a 20 km section of the Canal du Nord
Canal du Nord
The Canal du Nord is a long canal in northern France. The canal connects the Canal latéral à l'Oise at Pont-l'Évêque to the Sensée Canal at Arleux. The French government, in partnership with coal-mining companies in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments, developed the canal to help French coal...
with two locks. The Grande Somme is 120 km with 19 locks from English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is a commune in the Somme department. The village is a popular tourist destination because of its medieval character and ramparts, Gothic church and long waterside boardwalk.-Geography:...
to Canal du Nord
Canal du Nord
The Canal du Nord is a long canal in northern France. The canal connects the Canal latéral à l'Oise at Pont-l'Évêque to the Sensée Canal at Arleux. The French government, in partnership with coal-mining companies in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments, developed the canal to help French coal...
at Péronne
Péronne, Somme
Péronne is a commune of the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.It is close to where the Battles of the Somme took place during World War I...
. The Petite Somme from the Canal du Nord
Canal du Nord
The Canal du Nord is a long canal in northern France. The canal connects the Canal latéral à l'Oise at Pont-l'Évêque to the Sensée Canal at Arleux. The French government, in partnership with coal-mining companies in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments, developed the canal to help French coal...
at Voyennes
Voyennes
Voyennes is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Voyennes is situated 30 miles west of Amiens, on the D417 road in the valley of the Somme River.-Population:-External links:*...
to the Canal de Saint-Quentin
Canal de Saint-Quentin
The Canal de Saint-Quentin is a canal in northern France connecting the canalised Escaut River in Cambrai to the Canal latéral à l'Oise and Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne in Chauny-History:...
at St. Simon
Saint-Simon, Aisne
Saint-Simon is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
was closed to traffic in 2005.
In the 1960s, more than 300,000 tonnes of goods were transported on the canal. Today it is used largely by pleasure boats.
En Route
- Saint-Valery-sur-SommeSaint-Valery-sur-SommeSaint-Valery-sur-Somme is a commune in the Somme department. The village is a popular tourist destination because of its medieval character and ramparts, Gothic church and long waterside boardwalk.-Geography:...
- AbbevilleAbbevilleAbbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
- AmiensAmiensAmiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
- PéronnePéronne, SommePéronne is a commune of the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.It is close to where the Battles of the Somme took place during World War I...
- VoyennesVoyennesVoyennes is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Voyennes is situated 30 miles west of Amiens, on the D417 road in the valley of the Somme River.-Population:-External links:*...
- St. SimonSaint-Simon, AisneSaint-Simon is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
External links
- Canal de la Somme guide Places, ports and moorings on the canal, including St-Valery as an entry port into the French waterways.