river
A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...
in
Normandy
Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy.
Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...
Orne
Orne (; or ) is a département in the northwest of France, named after the river Orne. It had a population of 279,942 in 2019.Orderic Vitalis (1075–1142).
The river runs, in a north-northeast direction, towards the Risle with which it joins at Serquigny.
The Charentonne valley, which separates the Lieuvin
plateau
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; : plateaus or plateaux), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. ...
and the Ouche plateau has stiff and wooded slopes. The bottom of the valley is covered with
clay
Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolinite, ). Most pure clay minerals are white or light-coloured, but natural clays show a variety of colours from impuriti ...
ed alluvions ; it is flat and wet, flooded in winter, with beautiful natural meadows, characteristic of Normandy.
The river and surrounding areas are parts of a protected Natura 2000 site called Risle, Guiel, Charentonne.
The Charentonne flows through the following communes: Broglie, Bernay.