Gouët Explained

Gouët
Image Caption:Gouët
Pushpin Map:France#France Bretagne
Mouth Location:English Channel
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:France
Length:46.6km (29miles)
Discharge1 Avg:2.042m3/s
Basin Size:240km2

The Gouët (Breton: Goued) is a French river, located in the department of Côtes-d'Armor, in the region of Brittany, which drains into the English Channel.

Geography

The river's source is found at the top of Kerchouan, a shale geological feature located in the commune of La Harmoye. Il prend sa source à la cime de Kerchouan, un relief schisteux situé sur la commune de La Harmoye. Much of the water is from rainfall, however, it is also influenced by a dam in La Méaugon, which collects potable water for the nearby city of Saint-Brieuc. This dam siphons off 86% of the surface of the basin.

The Gouët is an extremely polluted river. Its banks are the site of intensive agriculture, and in addition it receives runoff from multiple nearby oil refineries. Finally, the Gouët is polluted by the waste products from nearby food processing factories.

The river is 46.6km (29miles) long and it empties into the English Channel at Saint-Brieuc, at the port of Légué, thus separating the cities of Saint-Brieuc and Plérin. The width varies between 10 and 23 feet (3 and 7m). The average discharge measured between 1990 and 1997 was 2.042m3/s, with measured discharges of 12m3/s during strong winter floods.

The drainage basin has an area of 251km2 and the underlying rock is primarily granite.

Tributaries

Towns

Quintin, Ploufragan, Saint-Brieuc, Plérin

See also

Notes and references

48.5333°N 47°W