Rouvre

This article is about the river in Normandy, France. For towns named similarly, see Rouvres.

The Rouvre is a river in Normandy, in the Orne département, a tributary of the river Orne. It is 45.7 km (28.4 mi) long.

Rouvre
The river in woodland
Location
Country	France
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Beauvain, Orne, Normandy
• elevation	316 m (1,037 ft)
Mouth
• location	Orne at Ménil-Hubert-sur-Orne
• coordinates	48°50′50″N 0°23′03″W
• elevation	63 m (207 ft)
Length	46 km (29 mi)
Basin size	309 km2 (119 sq mi)
Basin features
Progression	Orne→ English Channel

The river's source is in the commune of Beauvain, a few kilometres to the east of La Ferté-Macé. After crossing the Pays d'Houlme, it turns in a north-westerly direction to re-enter Norman Switzerland, and then in its last course of 15 km (9.3 mi) passes around Bréel.

The Rouvre then joins the Orne between the dam at Saint-Philbert-sur-Orne and Pont-d'Ouilly, and joins the Orne at Rouvrou (elevation 63 m (207 ft)).

The Rock of Oëtre

This last part of its course is through small wooded gorges and its fast waters can make for good kayaking, when the water level permits, and fishing for brown trout. These gorges are home to animal and plant species such as pearl mussels and Osmond Royal (water-fern), and one may occasionally see otters and salmon.

The river's environment makes it an important tourist attraction in Norman Switzerland, with its rural and fluvial environment, The viewpoint from the Rock of Oetre into the valley is of 118 m (387 ft) below, the steepest drop.

Parts of the river are protected under the Natura 2000 conservation area called Vallée de l'Orne et ses affluents.

External links

• Page about the Rouvre, on a kayaking website
• Description of the Rock of Oetre, on the website of the Council-General of Orne
• CPIE des Collines normandes Association of environmental education, based at the Rouvre waterside, on the website of the 'House of River and Countryside'