LESSE

lesse, one of the most romantic of the smaller rivers of belgium. it rises at ochamps in the ardennes, and flowing in a north-westerly course reaches the meuse at anseremme, a few miles above dinant. the river is only 49 m. long, but its meandering course may be judged by the fact that it is no more than 29 m. from ochamps to anseremme in a straight line. there is a good deal of pretty scenery along this river, as, for instance, at ciergnon, but the most striking part of the valley is contained in the last 12 m. from houyet to anseremme. in this section the river is confined between opposing walls of cliff ranging from 300 to 500 ft. above the river. here were discovered in the caves near walzin the bones of prehistoric men, and other evidence of the primitive occupants of this globe at a period practically beyond computation. another curious natural feature of the lesse is that on reaching the hill of han it disappears underground, reappearing about 1 m. farther on at the village of that name. here are the curious and interesting han grottoes. the lesse receives altogether in its short course the water of thirteen tributaries.