FRANCE 



593 



y. Valleys. The valley of the Garonne is formed by the Pyrenees on the south, the 

 Cevennes on the east, and the Cantal and some other ranges on the north. The valley of 

 the Rhone is formed by the Jura on the north, the Alps on the east, and the Cevennes on the 

 west. The valley of the Loire is bounded by the Cevennes on the north and west, and by 

 the Cantal and Monts d'Or on the south. The valley of the Seine is bounded by a branch of 

 the Cevennes on the south, and a range of chalky hills on the north. 



4. Rivers. France is a well watered country. It is compuled, that it contains 6,000 

 rivers, 300 of which are navigable. In the north is the Seine, flowing northwesterly into the 

 English Channel at Havre. It is 450 miles in length. Its borders for the most part are 

 exceedingly fertile and beautiful. It flows by Paris, but is not navigable for large vessels up 

 to this city. The Loire is the longest river of France, and has a course of 600 miles. It 

 rises among the Cevennes and flows north and west into the Bay of Biscay. It is navigable 

 by boats to within 90 miles of its source. Between Angers and Nantes it is one of the finest 

 rivers in the world, with a wide current, woody islands, and bold and cultivated shores. Its 

 depth is from 7 to 10 feet. The alluvial deposits form shoals at its mouth which are contin- 

 ually increasing. 



The Garonne rises in the Pyrenees within the limits of Catalonia, and runs northwesterly 

 into the Bay of Biscay. Its course is 350 miles. Near the -ea it is joined by the Dordogne 

 from the east, and the united stream is called the Girondc. Its month is full of shoals. Bor- 

 deaux stands upon the Garonne, just above the junction with the Dordogne ; and Toulouse 

 is on the upper part of its course. Between these cities it is navigated by the largest boats, 

 and from Bordeaux to the sea by ships. The tide flows nearly 90 miles up the stream ; and 

 is sometimes preceded by a huge billow, that sweeps destructively along the shore. The 

 scenery between Toulouse and Bordeaux is beautilul ; the river passes through extensive 

 plains of luxuriant fertility. The land about its mouth is rocky and barren. 



The Rhone., for swiftness and depth, is distinguished among the rivers of France. It rises 

 from a glacier on the western side of Mount St. Gothard in Switzerland. It flows 100 miles 

 in that country to the lake of Geneva, through which it passes westerly into France. At 

 Lyons it is joined by the Saone from the north, and the united streams under the name of 

 the Rhone, flow south of the Mediterranean ; it joins the sea by two principal mouths. Only 

 small vessels enter by the western channel ; the eastern is deeper, but on account of the 

 swiftness of the current, the navigation up the river is difficult. The entire course of the 

 Rhone is 500 miles. Its waters are of a light blue. From Lyons to Avignon, a distance 

 of 140 miles by the course of the river, the banks of the Rhone are extremel}^ picturesque, 

 winding among rocks and mountains, and offering to the eye a romantic and perpetually vary- 

 ing scenery. Between Lyons and Vienne, are seen forests, vineyards, chateaux on com- 

 manding eminences, and cottages embosomed in trees, retiring from the view ; these, with the 

 busy traffic on the majestic river, and the prosperous villages along its banks, afford an en- 

 chanting spectacle to the eye of the traveler. The Saone which flows into the Rhone below 

 Lyons, is so tranquil, that it is difficult to perceive which way the current sets. The swift 

 current of the Rhone refuses to mingle with the Saone for some time after their junction, and 

 a distinct line of separation can be seen between them for many miles. The Isere and Dur- 

 ance rise among the mountains of Savoy, and flowing westerly fall into the Rhone. Tie 

 Somme flows into the English Channel ; the Charente and Mour into the Bay of Biscay. 



The Escaut or Scheldt, the JMeuse, and the .Moselle rise in the northern part of France and 

 pass into Belgium. The Rhine washes a small portion of the eastern boundary. 



5. Lakes. There are no lakes that deserve the name in France. Near the coast of the 

 Mediterranean, are some shallow ponds or etangs, in which salt is manufactured. 



G. Islands. The island of Corsica, in the Mediterranean, forms a part of the kingdom of 

 France. It is about 100 miles from the French coast. It is 116 miles long, and about 59 

 in width. It is mountainous, and one elevation rises to the height of 9,246 feet. At a distance, 

 the island has the appearance of an enormous pyramid of mountains. Fertile vales lie among 

 the ridges in every part. The slopes are covered with forests of oak and fir, and they contain 

 rich silver mines, with Iron, copper, lead, antimony, alum, marble, porphyry, and jasper. 

 The soil produces wine and olives. The inhabitants amount to 185,000. Bastia, the 

 largest town, has 9,316. Ajaccio, on the western coast, was the birth-place of Napoleon. 

 The land In Corsica is mostly public property. The commerce consists chiefly in the expor- 

 lation of coral, which abounds on the coasts. A narrow strait on the south divides this island 



