Lay (river)
Encyclopedia
The Lay is a 120.3 km (74.8 mi) long river
in the Vendée
département, western France
. Its source is at Saint-Pierre-du-Chemin
. It flows generally southwest. It flows into the Bay of Biscay
between La Faute-sur-Mer
and L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer
, 20 km (12.4 mi) northwest of La Rochelle
.
Its main tributaries are the Yon
and the Smagne
.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
département, western France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Its source is at Saint-Pierre-du-Chemin
Saint-Pierre-du-Chemin
St-Pierre-du-Chemin is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
. It flows generally southwest. It flows into the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
between La Faute-sur-Mer
La Faute-sur-Mer
La Faute-sur-Mer is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The river Lay forms all of the commune's eastern border, then flows into the Atlantic Ocean, which forms all of its western border....
and L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer
L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer
L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer is a commune in the Vendée department in western France.-Geography:The river Lay forms all of the commune's northwestern border, then flows into the Atlantic Ocean, which forms all of its western border.-References:*...
, 20 km (12.4 mi) northwest of La Rochelle
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
.
Its main tributaries are the Yon
Yon
The Yon is a long river in the Vendée département, western France. Its source is at Saint-Martin-des-Noyers. It flows generally south. It is a right tributary of the Lay into which it flows between Rosnay and Le Champ-Saint-Père....
and the Smagne
Smagne
The Smagne is a long river in the Vendée département, western France. Its source is near Bourseguin, a hamlet in Bourneau. It flows generally west...
.
Communes along its course
This list is ordered from source to mouth:- Vendée: Saint-Pierre-du-CheminSaint-Pierre-du-CheminSt-Pierre-du-Chemin is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, MenombletMenombletMenomblet is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
, RéaumurRéaumur, VendéeRéaumur is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The village lies on the left bank of the Lay, which forms all of the commune's northern border.-References:*...
, MontournaisMontournaisMontournais is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
, La Meilleraie-TillayLa Meilleraie-TillayLa Meilleraie-Tillay is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The commune lies on the right bank of the river Lay, which forms all of the commune's southern border.-References:*...
, PouzaugesPouzaugesPouzauges is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
, Le BoupèreLe BoupèreLe Boupère is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, MonsireigneMonsireigneMonsireigne is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
, Saint-ProuantSaint-ProuantSaint-Prouant is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, SigournaisSigournaisSigournais is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
, Bazoges-en-ParedsBazoges-en-ParedsBazoges-en-Pareds is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, ChantonnayChantonnayChantonnay is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The Lay River flows southwestward through the commune and forms part of its eastern and southern borders.-References:*...
, La RéortheLa RéortheLa Réorthe is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, BournezeauBournezeauBournezeau is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
, Sainte-HermineSainte-HermineSainte-Hermine is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The river Smagne flows southwestward through the commune and crosses the town. The river Lay forms most of the commune's northern border....
, Sainte-PexineSainte-PexineSainte-Pexine is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The river Lay flows southwestward through the northern part of the commune and forms part of its western border; the river Smagne, a tributary of the Lay, forms most of the commune's...
, Moutiers-sur-le-LayMoutiers-sur-le-LayMoutiers-sur-le-Lay is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The village lies on the left bank of the river Lay, which flows southwestward through the southern part of the commune.-References:*...
, BessayBessayBessay is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The river Smagne forms all of the commune's southern border, then flows into the Lay, which flows southwestward through the north-western part of the commune....
, Mareuil-sur-Lay-DissaisMareuil-sur-Lay-DissaisMareuil-sur-Lay-Dissais is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The river Smagne forms part of the commune's eastern border, then flows into the Lay, which flows southwestward through the commune and crosses the village.-References:*...
, La CoutureLa Couture, VendéeLa Couture is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The river Lay forms most of the commune's eastern and south-western borders.-References:*...
, PéaultPéaultPéault is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, La Bretonnière-la-ClayeLa Bretonnière-la-ClayeLa Bretonnière-la-Claye is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, RosnayRosnay, VendéeRosnay is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The river Yon forms all of the commune's south-western border, then flows into the Lay, which forms part of its southern border....
, Le Champ-Saint-PèreLe Champ-Saint-PèreLe Champ-Saint-Père is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The river Yon forms all of the commune's north-eastern border, then flows into the Lay, which forms all of its eastern border.-References:...
, Saint-Vincent-sur-GraonSaint-Vincent-sur-GraonSaint-Vincent-sur-Graon is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, Saint-Cyr-en-TalmondaisSaint-Cyr-en-TalmondaisSaint-Cyr-en-Talmondais is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, CurzonCurzon, VendéeCurzon is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, LairouxLairouxLairoux is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France....
, Saint-Benoist-sur-MerSaint-Benoist-sur-MerSaint-Benoist-sur-Mer is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, GruesGrues, VendéeGrues is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
, AnglesAngles, VendéeAngles is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The river Lay forms all of the commune's eastern border. Angles is located to the south of the department between plains and marshes, 7 kilometres from the beaches of La Tranche sur Mer and...
, La Faute-sur-MerLa Faute-sur-MerLa Faute-sur-Mer is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The river Lay forms all of the commune's eastern border, then flows into the Atlantic Ocean, which forms all of its western border....
, L'Aiguillon-sur-MerL'Aiguillon-sur-MerL'Aiguillon-sur-Mer is a commune in the Vendée department in western France.-Geography:The river Lay forms all of the commune's northwestern border, then flows into the Atlantic Ocean, which forms all of its western border.-References:*...
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