Nivelle

Nivelle is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.

Heraldry

See also

References

Nivelle (river)

The Nivelle (widest accepted Basque forms: Ugarana or Urdazuri) is a 41-kilometre (25 mi) long river in the Northern Basque Country (France) flowing largely south-east to north-west, with only 7 km of its length being considered navigable. The river results from the union of various streams in Urdazubi (Navarre), going on to cross the Spanish-French border at Dantxarinea after 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) meandering across Navarrese soil. The river pours into the Bay of Biscay on the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz (French for Donibane Lohizune) after cutting its way between this town and Ciboure (French for Ziburu) on its final stage. At this point, celebrated Basque French composer and arranger Maurice Ravel was born in one of the front houses overlooking the channel.

Variety of Basque names

For all its shortness, the river takes on several names in Basque language at different stretches of the course, e.g. Sarrakaria, Urma, Uhertsi (spelled sometimes Ur Ertsi), besides the above Ugarana and Urdazuri. This conspicuous diversity reflects the historic situation of the native language, deprived of official recognition whatsoever or transmission through formal schooling up to recent times (and still). Locals, when asked for the name of the river in Basque, often may answer U(r)handi, meaning "big water", a descriptive naming that has sometimes applied to the neighbouring and main river of Labourd the Errobi/Nive.

Nivelle (disambiguation)

Nivelle may refer to: