Don (Vilaine)
Encyclopedia
The River Don is a river
in Brittany
, France
. It is a tributary of the River Vilaine.
, near the towns of Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef
and Chanveaux in Maine-et-Loire
. The river flows west, passing through the towns of Saint-Julien-de-Vouvantes
and Petit-Auverné
, where the Little Don joins it. The river flows through the towns of Isse
, Treffieux
and Jans
, where the River Cone joins it. After passing under the RN 137, it continues toward Marsac-sur-Don
, Guémené-Penfao
and then Massérac
, where it empties into the River Vilaine at the border of Loire-Atlantique
and the Ille-et-Vilaine
.
The flow of the Don was observed and documented in a study which took place over a period of 25 years (1983-2007). The results were taken from near the Don's confluence with the Vilaine. It showed that the average annual flow rate 3.77 cubic meters per second. However, the Don has strong seasonal fluctuations in flow rates, in common with other tributaries of the Valaine, and other rivers of Brittany. The highest waters occur in winter, and are characterized by average monthly rates ranging from 5.95 to 11.7 cubic meters per second. From March, the flow decreases rapidly, to the lowest water in summer from June to mid-October. The results are clearer in the bar graph, below.
Average flow (in cubic metres per second) of the River Don
Montly averages over a 25-year period (1983 to 2007), taken from near its confluence with the Vilaine
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 Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, 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...
. It is a tributary of the River Vilaine.
Geography
The River Don rises in the steppes of BrittanyBrittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, near the towns of Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef
Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef
Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.-References:*...
and Chanveaux in Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire is a department in west-central France, in the Pays de la Loire region.- History :Maine-et-Loire is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. Originally it was called Mayenne-et-Loire, but its name was changed to Maine-et-Loire in 1791....
. The river flows west, passing through the towns of Saint-Julien-de-Vouvantes
Saint-Julien-de-Vouvantes
Saint-Julien-de-Vouvantes is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.-References:*...
and Petit-Auverné
Petit-Auverné
Petit-Auverné is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.-See also:*Communes of the Loire-Atlantique department...
, where the Little Don joins it. The river flows through the towns of Isse
Isse
Isse is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France....
, Treffieux
Treffieux
Treffieux is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France....
and Jans
Jans
Jans is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France....
, where the River Cone joins it. After passing under the RN 137, it continues toward Marsac-sur-Don
Marsac-sur-Don
Marsac-sur-Don is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.-See also:*Communes of the Loire-Atlantique department...
, Guémené-Penfao
Guémené-Penfao
Guémené-Penfao is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France. The name comes from Breton language "gwen" "menez" , "pen" and "faou" . The main economic activity is agriculture....
and then Massérac
Massérac
Massérac is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France....
, where it empties into the River Vilaine at the border of Loire-Atlantique
Loire-Atlantique
Loire-Atlantique is a department on the west coast of France named after the Loire River and the Atlantic Ocean.-History:...
and the Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine is a department of France, located in the region of Brittany in the northwest of the country.- History :Ille-et-Vilaine is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
.
Hydrology
The River Don has a very irregular flow rate over the months, like other tributaries of the River Vilaine.The flow of the Don was observed and documented in a study which took place over a period of 25 years (1983-2007). The results were taken from near the Don's confluence with the Vilaine. It showed that the average annual flow rate 3.77 cubic meters per second. However, the Don has strong seasonal fluctuations in flow rates, in common with other tributaries of the Valaine, and other rivers of Brittany. The highest waters occur in winter, and are characterized by average monthly rates ranging from 5.95 to 11.7 cubic meters per second. From March, the flow decreases rapidly, to the lowest water in summer from June to mid-October. The results are clearer in the bar graph, below.
Average flow (in cubic metres per second) of the River Don
Montly averages over a 25-year period (1983 to 2007), taken from near its confluence with the Vilaine