Moret-sur-Loing (and more) flooded
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Records
Everyone knows about the terrible floods that have hit France, Germany and -to a lesser extend- Belgium and The Netherlands. During our first winter in France (2012-13) we have lived in a lovely little town Moret-sur-Loing, some to the south-east from Paris. We visited again during the two most recent summers. The river Loing is a tributary to the river Seine. Next to Moret’s bridge over the river a scale is to be found, mentioning the floods in the past. The flood of 2016 is in good company: almost as bad as in 1770, 1802 and 1910. © Nicolas Deschamps.
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Nothing new
An interesting combination of two pictures here. The upper one shows Paris’ Pont Saint-Michel in 1910; the lower one in 2016. The capital “N” on the bridge’s sides refer to the emperor Napoleon III – son of Napoleon I’s younger brother Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland. The picture shows clearly that the scale in Moret does not exaggerate one single bit about 1910. © Jacques Metges.
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No worries
The moorings at Moret are situated some 2 kilometers (1,25 miles) from the confluence of Loing and Seine. Here the navigable part of the river ends and the lateral Canal du Loing starts, as emphasized by the lock on the left of the picture. This picture was taken in October 2012, just after we arrived here for the first time.
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Little worries
Later on, in February 2013, it became clear that the Loing can rapidly rise. The fixed pontoon is already submerged. Later on the cleats would disappear too – but that, fortunately, was the maximum in 2013.
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Big worries
There's a load of boats moored on the first part of the river Loing, between were we were moored and the river Seine. This is what it looked like the past week. All boats seem to be in the middle of the fast flowing river. In reality the quay next to where they are all moored is submerged. A smaller boat in the distance even seems to be on top of the quay, while some others, more to the front, seem to prevent themselves from drifting ashore by using a sturdy pole or something similar. © Le Monde.
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A stroll in the park
October 2012. A tranquil river next to the lovely park.
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A swim in the park
June 2016 (1). The same park, already submerged for an important part. © Nicolas Deschamps.
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Where's the park?
June 2016 (2). Seen from the bridge. Only the tops of the trees in the park are visible on the left. Unbelievable! © Nicolas Deschamps.
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Arch still walkable
After walking the park, the town can be entered by continuing underneath the arch that is just visible at the right. In February 2013 one could still do it, though using wellingtons was a necessity.
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Arch hardly visible
The same arch is situated on the left of the picture. Now it’s June 2016. Wellingtons are of no help any longer. © Nicolas Deschamps.
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Sweet
What else can one say than: lovely. October 2012.
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Naughty
This is February 2013. Just a bit less lovely but, hey, it’s a river.
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Mean
June 2016 than. That’s plain scary! © Ville de Moret-sur-Loing.
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What could possibly change?
The river Loing, summer 2015, as seen from Moret’s bridge…
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Well, here's the answer!
…and the same view, now in June 2016. © Ville de Moret-sur-Loing.
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An emptying canal...
The route from Paris towards the river Loire was once first the river Seine, to be left at at St Mammes, then following Le (Canal du) Loing (towards Montargis), followed by Le Canal de Briare (towards Briare) and finally Le Canal latéral à la Loire (towards Decize). Nowadays these canals are still capable of accommodating ships of Class I corresponding to the historical Freycinet gauge decreed in France during 1879. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classification_of_European_Inland_Waterways. The recent developments, weather-wise speaking, caused a serious breach of the bank of Le Canal de Briare. © Unknown.
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...is not cheerful to look at
The same breach as seen from the opposite bank. It gives a pretty good idea of the masses of water entering the land around the canal. Differences in level are either tackled by embankments, cuttings, locks, aqueducts or tunnels. When the surroundings are at a lower level there’s always the chance of an accident like this. The consequences of such an event are likely to be devastating to all living in the area. © Le Journal de Gien. Hopefully next week a more cheerful blog-page. We’re still ‘stuck’ at Waulsort – on a fast flowing, though slowly dropping river Meuse.
Meest recente reacties
Dankjewel, Tineke! Tot gauw 😍.
En dan nog even en Amersfoort in zicht
De laatste foto: ongelooflijk!!!!!
Dank je wel, Tineke! We zien mekaar hopelijk snel in A'foort.
Jaja, 't schiet op. Maar rustig aan, want de Nijkerkersluis is nog een paar dagen geblokkeerd. (En een 'Vollenhove' zal ik -als ik er aan toe kom- een n toevoegen...)