Aisne (river)

Aisne
The Aisne near the village of Soupir
Country	France
Basin features
Main source	Champagne-Ardenne 48°56′44″N 05°10′46″E / 48.94556°N 5.17944°E / 48.94556; 5.17944 (Oise-Aisne)
River mouth	Oise 49°26′1″N 2°50′49″E / 49.43361°N 2.84694°E / 49.43361; 2.84694 (Oise-Aisne)Coordinates: 49°26′1″N 2°50′49″E / 49.43361°N 2.84694°E / 49.43361; 2.84694 (Oise-Aisne)
Progression	Oise→ Seine→ English Channel
Basin size	7,752 km2 (2,993 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length	356 km (221 mi)
Discharge	Average rate: 63 m3/s (2,200 cu ft/s)

The Aisne (French: [ɛn]) is a river in northeastern France. It is a left tributary of the Oise. It gave its name to the French department of Aisne. It was known in the Roman period as Axona.

It rises in the forest of Argonne, at Rembercourt-Sommaisne, near Sainte-Menehould. It flows north and then west before joining the Oise near Compiègne. The Aisne is 356 kilometres (221 mi) long. Its main tributaries are the Vesle, the Aire and the Suippe. Three bitter battles of World War I were fought into the valleys of the Aisne.

Departments 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 cereals. The waterway also links Northwestern Europe to the small inland harbour of Reims, where metallurgical industries depend on inland waterways transport. The Aisne is connected to the rest of the network by the Oise, the Canal de l'Oise à l'Aisne the Canal des Ardennes and the Canal de l'Aisne à la Marne. (Source: NoorderSoft Waterways Database)