
The Lesse is a
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 the
Ardennes
The Ardennes ( ; ; ; ; ), also known as the Ardennes Forest or Forest of Ardennes, is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, extending into Germany and France.
Geological ...
, in the Walloon region of
Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
. It is a right tributary to the river
Meuse
The Meuse or Maas is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a total length of .
History
From 1301, the upper ...
.
The source of the Lesse is near
Libramont-Chevigny
Libramont-Chevigny (; ) is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality of Wallonia located in the Luxembourg (Belgium), province of Luxembourg, Belgium.
On 1 February 2015, the municipality, which covers 177.86 km2, had 10,955 inhabitants, g ...
, in the Belgian province of
Luxembourg
Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...
. The Lesse flows roughly in north-western direction. Near
Han-sur-Lesse (municipality of
Rochefort) the entire river goes underground, flowing through limestone caves. Many of the caves along the banks of the Lesse are important archaeological sites; these include the Trou de Chaleux (by the Cirque de Chaleux), and the Trou des Nutons and Trou du Frontal at Furfooz. The Lesse flows into the river Meuse in the village of Anseremme, municipality of
Dinant
Dinant () is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality of Wallonia located in the Namur Province, province of Namur, Belgium. On the shores of river Meuse, in the Ardennes, it lies south-east of Brussels, south ...
. Towns along the Lesse are
Daverdisse, Han-sur-Lesse,
Houyet
Houyet () is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality of Wallonia in the Namur Province, province of Namur, Belgium.
On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 4,485 inhabitants. The total area is 122.31 km², giving a population density of 37 ...
and Anseremme.
External links
Site of the Walloon regional archives. Flooding of the Lesse in January 1995.
Subterranean rivers
Rivers of the Ardennes (Belgium)
Rivers of Belgium
Rivers of Wallonia
Rivers of Luxembourg (Belgium)
Rivers of Namur (province)
Dinant
Libramont-Chevigny
Rochefort, Belgium
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