MAINE - 12 BEAUTIFUL EU RIVERS

Please use our A-Z to navigate this site or return HOME

The orange economy refers to the creative economy, or the production of goods and services that are based on intellectual property, technology, and cultural inspiration. Some examples of the orange economy are arts, media, design, software, and tourism. The color orange symbolizes creativity and innovation. River cruises are classed as part of the orange economy. Sustainable river cruises, such as using solar or hydrogen powered boats, ferries or ships, is one of the United Nations agendas, and of course, being on water; blue growth.

Maine River, river, Maine-et-Loire département, western France, 7 mi (12 km) long, formed by the confluence of the Mayenne, the Sarthe, and the Loire rivers. Within 6 mi (north) of Angers, the Loire, meandering from the east, joins the southward-flowing Sarthe River, which is linked about 2.5 mi downstream by a branch with the Mayenne River, flowing southeastward. The Sarthe and the Mayenne meet again about 3 mi further downstream at the lower point of the heart-shaped island of Saint-Aubin to form the Maine. The Maine crosses Angers in a southwesterly direction and joins the westward-flowing Loire about 5 mi below the city.

The river's name is derived from the ancient Meodena, and is unrelated to Maine, the province.

The Mayenne is one of the delightful river navigations of the Anjou region, long abandoned by commercial traffic but increasingly popular as a cruising waterway. It was conceded by the State to the Pays-de-la-Loire region, allowing development of the river as a cruising waterway and tourist asset. The Mayenne was canalised in the 19th century from Mayenne to its confluence with the Loire at Bouchemaine, a distance of 134km. For many years the upstream 26km section to the town of Mayenne was no longer navigable, but the 17 locks and weirs in this section were restored in 1986-1990 by the region and département. Boats are once again able to reach Mayenne. Note however that only boats with limited air draught can proceed upstream of Laval where headroom may be an issue.

Just above the town of Angers the Mayenne is joined by the Sarthe, and from this point it takes the name of Maine. The development of pleasure cruising (especially with deep-draught boats) was long hindered by the severely limited draught during summer drought periods on the lower non-canalised sections of both the Mayenne and the Maine. This situation was remedied by construction of a new weir and lock downstream of Angers. A secondary channel, known as the Vieille-Maine, forms a cross-link with the Sarthe downstream of Montreuil-Belfroy. For craft passing from one river to the other, use of this link saves 5km by comparison with the route via the confluence, although most navigators will probably prefer to visit Angers for the facilities offered in the town.

The river Oudon, a right-bank tributary of the Mayenne, is canalised over a distance of 18km from the Mayenne to the small town of Segré, where a port de plaisance has been established near the head of navigation.

All our oceans, seas and rivers are now extremely polluted. This is partly to do with our obsession with single use plastic, and partly to do with our reliance on fossil fuels for marine transport, mostly subsidized, in denial of alternative renewables like solar and green hydrogen, or green methanol clean energy.

MOST BEAUTIFUL & FAMOUS EUROPEAN RIVERS

Blue Danube - Black Forest to Black Sea
Don - Russia
Douro - Spain & Portugal
Elbe - Czech Republic & Germany

Loire - France
Maine - 
Moselle - Germany
Po - Italy
Rhine - Germany
Rhône - Swiss Alps & France
Seine - Dijon France to English Channel
Tiber - Italy

Since before the days of the Pharaohs, the River Nile has brought prosperity to the people living on its banks.

LINKS & REFERENCE

https://

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 

The Elizabeth Swann, is a Queen of the Nile themed ocean and river cruiser, that is powered by solar panels and hydrogen. Solar assistance is not needed if using green hydrogen, provided there is sufficient bunkering on the rivers, or at ports, etc. Imagine cruising the river Po, or any of the most beautiful European rivers, in a ferry based on similar ecological designs.

AMAZON - BURIGANGA - CITARUM - CONGO - CUYAHOGA - GANGES - IRTYSH - JORDAN  - LENA - MANTANZA-RIACHUELO

MARILAO - MEKONG - MISSISSIPPI - NIGER - NILE - PARANA - PASIG - SARNO - THAMES - YANGTZE - YAMUNA - YELLOW

Please use our A-Z to navigate this site

MOST BEAUTIFUL CRUISING HOLIDAYS - THE TWELVE LONGEST RIVERS IN EUROPE - 12 OF THE BEST CRUISES SUMMER & WINTER BREAKS

This website is Copyright © 2024 Cleaner Ocean Foundation Ltd, an equal opportunities company.

 This website is provided on a free basis as a public information service. Copyright © Cleaner Oceans Foundation Ltd (COFL) (Company No: 4674774) 2024.

Solar Studios, BN271RF, United Kingdom. COFL is a charity without share capital.