Caen

Caen is a city and a commune of northwestern France. It is the préfecture (administrative capital) of the Calvados département, and the capital of the administrative Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy) région. Population 115,000, total urban sprawl around 200,000.

Geography

Caen is built in a very damp area. The Orne flows through Caen, as well as different small rivers known as "les Odons", most of them having been burried under the city to improve urban hygiene.

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Caen sits 10 km away from the Channel. A canal was built under Napoleon III and runs parralel to the river Orne to link Caen to the sea at all times, notwithstanding tides.

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