The is a
River in northeastern
France ,
Tributary of the river
Oise . It gave its name to the French ''
Département ''
Aisne .
It rises in the
Forest Of Argonne near
Sainte-Menehould . It flows north and then west before joining the
Oise River near
Compiègne . The Aisne is about 290 kilometres (180 miles) long. Three bitter battles of
World War I were fought into the valleys of the Aisne.
''
Département s'' and towns along the river include:
Small boats can travel much of the length of the river. Canals join the Aisne to the
Seine and
Meuse rivers. In the small-capacity network of waterways, the Aisne and the Canal Latéral à l'Aisne (Aisne lateral canal) give access to the agricultural towns of
Soissons and Vailly-sur-Aisne, both large exporters of cerials. The waterway also links Northwestern Europe to the small inland harbour of
Reims , where metallurgical industries are depending on inland waterways transport. The Aisne is connected to the rest of the network by the Oise river, the Canal de l'Aisne à l'Oise, the Canal des Ardennes and the Canal de l'Aisne à la Marne. (Source: [http://www.noordersoft.com/indexen,html NoorderSoft Waterways Database)]
