 |
THE LEIE OR LYS RIVER - FROM SOURCE TO ESTUARY
The Leie rises in Lisbourg in France and has a
length of 186 km, 93 km of which are in Belgium. In
Ghent the river merges with the Schelde (Scheldt).
The upper course of the Leie, a stream that is
gradually getting wider, flows through the Artesian
chalk plateau until it reaches Aire-sur-la-Lys.
Downriver, starting from the junction of the
Dunkirk-Schelde canal link, the river is navigable
by small canal boats and pleasure craft and slowly
works its way through a wide, gently undulating
plain.
The river section between Houplines and
Menen-Halluin is known as the Border Leie, the river
forming the border between Belgium and France since
the Congress of Vienna in 1815.
Between Deûlémont and Deinze the canalised Leie is
being made navigable by ships of up to 1,350 tonnes.
The Deûle River provides a connection with the port
of Lille. The Leie flows through, tranquil
pasturelands alternating with urbanized and
industrial areas.
In West Flanders the Leie is joined by two major
canals. The Bossuit-Kortrijk Canal serves as a
connection between the Leie and the Schelde, while
the Roeselare-Leie Canal leads to the Harbour area
of Roeselare.
From Deinze the Leie has retained its original
character. The river flows through a lush green
landscape of meadows and picturesque villages of
cultural and historical interest. The diversion
canal of the Leie serves as a connection with the
Ghent-Ostend Canal and is used for draining the Leie
basin. |
|
Kortrijk |
INFO: - Toerisme Leiestreek vzw
Dam 71 bus 22, 8500 Kortrijk, Tel.- 056 24 99 95 |
|
