View source for Semois

{{Short description|River in Belgium and France}}
{{Infobox river
 | name                = Semois
 | image               = 0 Bouillon - Corne de Turenne du château-fort et pont sur la Semois (1).JPG
 | image_alt           =
 | image_caption       = The Semois in [[Bouillon, Belgium|Bouillon]]
 | map                 = Semois.png
 | map_alt             =
 | map_caption         = Course of the Semois [http://u.osmfr.org/m/389038/]
 | source1_location    = [[Arlon]]
 | source1_coordinates = {{Coord|49|40|54|N|5|49|13|E|region:BE-WLX_type:river|format=dms}}
 | mouth_location      = [[Monthermé]]
 | mouth_coordinates   = {{Coord|49|52|50|N|4|44|18|E|format=dms|region:FR-08_type:river|display=inline,title}}
 | subdivision_type1   = Countries
 | subdivision_name1   = [[Belgium]] and [[France]]
 | progression         = {{RMeuse}}
 | length              = {{Convert|210|km|mi|abbr=on}}
 | source1_elevation   = {{Convert|410|m|ft|abbr=on}}
 | mouth_elevation     = 
 | discharge1_avg      = {{Convert|35|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
 | basin_size          = {{Convert|1329|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
 | tributaries_left    =
 | tributaries_right   =
}}

The '''Semois''' ({{IPA|fr|səmwa|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick-Semois.wav}}; ''Simwès'' in [[Walloon language|Walloon]], often under elided form ''Smwès''; ''Semoy'', ''Sesbach'' in [[German language|German]], ''Setzbaach'' in [[Luxembourgish]] of [[Arlon]]; and known as the ''Semoy'' in France) is a river flowing from the [[Ardennes]] uplands of [[Belgium]] and [[France]] towards the [[Meuse]], of which it is a [[right tributary]].<ref name="readersnatural">{{Cite book |editor-last=Scheffel |editor-first=Richard L. |editor-last2=Wernet |editor-first2=Susan J. |year=1980 |title=Natural Wonders of the World |url=https://archive.org/details/naturalwondersof00sche |url-access=registration |location=Pleasantville, NJ |publisher=Reader's Digest Association |isbn=0-89577-087-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/naturalwondersof00sche/page/340 340]}}</ref>

The source of the Semois is in [[Arlon]], [[Wallonia]], in the Belgian [[Luxembourg (province)|province of Luxembourg]], close to the border with the [[Luxembourg|Grand Duchy of Luxembourg]]. Flowing in a roughly westerly direction, it enters France after passing through the Belgian village of [[Bohan sur Semois|Bohan-sur-Semois]] and forms about {{convert|2|km}} of the [[Belgium–France border|Belgian–French border]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/49%C2%B052'50.0%22N+4%C2%B044'18.0%22E/@49.8653533,4.8334307,13.45z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d49.880556!4d4.738333?hl=en|title = Google Maps}}</ref> It joins the Meuse {{convert|24|km|mi|0}} further downstream in [[Monthermé]].<ref name=sandre>{{sandre|id=B6--0100|nom=La Semoy}}</ref> The total length of the river is {{convert|210|km|mi}}.

Other places on the banks of the Semois are [[Chiny]], [[Florenville]], [[Herbeumont]], [[Bouillon, Belgium|Bouillon]] (including the localities of [[Dohan]] and [[Poupehan]]), and [[Vresse-sur-Semois]] (all in Belgium).

The earliest documentation of the name, as  <small>SESMARA</small>, is dated from the 2nd century AD. That was before that region was influenced by significant Germanic immigration. Medieval forms include ''Sesomirs'' (664), ''Sesmarus'' (950), ''Sesmoys'' (1104), and ''Semoir'' (1244).

The river has given its name to a variety of tobacco grown in the area.<ref name="readersnatural" />

[[File:Semois Ste Cécile.jpg|thumb|center|300px|The Semois near Florenville]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Semois}}
* [https://archives.wallonie.be/ark:/44119/fpgltrnk69b5 Site of the Walloon regional archives. Flooding of the Semois in January 1995.]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:International rivers of Europe]]
[[Category:Rivers of Ardennes (department)]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Ardennes (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Ardennes (France)]]
[[Category:Rivers of Belgium]]
[[Category:Rivers of France]]
[[Category:Rivers of Grand Est]]
[[Category:Rivers of Luxembourg (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Rivers of Namur (province)]]
[[Category:Rivers of Wallonia]]
[[Category:Belgium–France border]]
[[Category:Border rivers]]
[[Category:Arlon]]
[[Category:Bertrix]]
[[Category:Bouillon]]
[[Category:Étalle, Belgium]]
[[Category:Florenville]]
[[Category:Herbeumont]]
[[Category:Tintigny]]
[[Category:Vresse-sur-Semois]]


{{LuxembourgBE-geo-stub}}
{{Ardennes-geo-stub}}
{{Belgium-river-stub}}
{{France-river-stub}}