Isn’t it wonderful to find a spot of nature in the heart of Paris? The Allée de la Seine offers just that. It is a place where the city meets the river.
The Seine is central to Paris. It is the city’s axis. The river has shaped Parisian history. It has been a major asset for the city.
The Seine has always been vital. People settled here in prehistoric times. Evidence comes from remains found in Bercy. The river determined the city’s layout between its banks. It was the economic engine.
The control of navigation brought wealth. It gave power to the Nautes. They were a merchants’ guild. A pillar found under Notre-Dame suggests their political power.
The Allée de la Seine provides a green corridor. This cuts the capital in two. The river flows through Paris for almost 13 kilometers. Its depth varies from 3.4 to 5.7 meters. The width ranges from 30 to 200 meters.
Paris has 37 bridges across the Seine. Four of these are pedestrian walkways. The river has just two true islands today. These are Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis.
The Seine’s water quality has improved. Aquatic plants have returned. Various fish species are back too. You might see mallard ducks. Coots and wagtails also live here. Winter brings gulls and black-headed gulls. They add a touch of the seaside.
Trees line the Allée de la Seine. Planes are common. Italian poplars and aspens grow here. Willows add romance to the riverbanks. Plants thrive despite the paving. Moss and purple loosestrife can be seen. European bugleweed also grows. It was once used to treat wounds. Ferns and lichens adapt to the stones. Lichens show better air quality.
Aquatic flora is essential. It oxygenates the water. Arrowheads and pondweed offer fish a place to lay eggs. They also shelter young fish.
From autumn to spring black-headed gulls visit Paris. They were rare in the 19th century. Gulls also spend winter in the city. They arrived in the 1970s. They are drawn by nearby landfills. They leave Paris in the summer.
Some mallard ducks stay all year. Coots and moorhens are also seen. Grey wagtails visit in winter. They have long black tails. They hop vertically. Kingfishers are rarer winter visitors. They favor the Pont Mirabeau. The Pont du Garigliano is another favorite. Cormorants were seen near Notre-Dame. This happened during the harsh winter of 1950.
Fifty years ago the Seine had few fish. Now about twenty species are common. Another ten are rarer. Roach tench and gudgeon have returned. Bleak trout perch and pike are also present. These species arrived naturally. Catfish and wels catfish are foreign. Wels catfish eat a lot. They were introduced in 1980. The goal was to control bream. They also aimed to control American crayfish. Some wels catfish reach 2 meters. They can weigh 50 kg.
Heavy storms threaten the Seine. Excess wastewater can suffocate fish. Paris and SIAAP use oxygen diffusers. They also use reservoirs. This protects the river’s wildlife.
The Seine flooded in 1910. Paris was paralyzed for over a week. This showed the need to protect the city from floods. Measures have been taken. Parapets have been built. Bridges and quays have been raised. The riverbed has been deepened. The Monnaie dam-lock has been removed. These changes improve water flow.
Four large artificial lakes were built. This happened upstream from Paris. They were completed between 1950 and 1990. They regulate the Seine’s flow. In floods river water is stored. This limits the flood’s size. The water is then released slowly. These dams could lower a 1910-style flood. The reduction would be about 70 cm in Paris.
Protecting Parisians from floods is a priority. Permanent protections are in place. These include raised parapets. Mobile protections are also used. These include anti-flood barriers. The system can contain the Seine. It can handle levels up to the 1910 flood.
The city’s sewer system has been improved. It functions normally. This is true unless public areas flood. Paris’s drinking water supply should be safe. This is true as long as buildings have power.
Paris has five wells. Each can produce 150000 liters per hour. Three are easily accessible. Two more wells are planned.
The Seine’s banks are now car-free. They are places for relaxation. You can walk along them.
Guillaume Apollinaire wrote about the Seine. He called it an adorable river. He said people never tire of watching it. Today the Allée de la Seine lets us do just that. We can appreciate the river’s beauty. We can also learn about its history.