Meuse

The Meuse is a long river in Western Europe. It originates in northeastern France, flows through Belgium and the Netherlands, and eventually enters a delta system shared with the Rhine and Scheldt rivers, which empties into the North Sea. The river is approximately 900 km long.

The river's name comes from place names along its course, such as Maastricht in the Netherlands and the Meuse department in France. Because most of its water comes from rainfall rather than mountain snow, water levels vary considerably throughout the year: they are high in winter and low in summer.

Course of the river

The Meuse originates in elevated terrain in southeastern France in the Langres region, then flows northward. It passes through a narrow valley with rocky terrain as it enters the Ardennes region. Within Belgium, it flows through the cities of Namur and Liège, where other rivers—such as the Sambre and Ourthe—join it. It then forms part of the border between Belgium and the Netherlands before entering the lowlands of the Netherlands.

Use and water management

The Meuse is an important source of drinking water and industrial water for the regions that depend on it. Small dams, weirs, and canals have been built to allow cargo vessels to navigate it year-round. The Netherlands has constructed a special system for managing the river and delta to prevent flooding and to keep saltwater from entering the lowlands. Climate change and summer drought conditions have led to disputes over how water should be shared among the three countries.

History

The Meuse valley was long a route of commerce and a political boundary. In the Middle Ages, the cities along the river became centers of trade and iron working. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Liège and its surroundings were among Europe's earliest industrial regions, based on coal and iron. During both World Wars, the Meuse and Ardennes area saw major military operations, and the river was regarded as an important defensive line.