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the Degree Confluence Project
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France : Centre-Val de Loire

1.2 km (0.7 miles) W of Les Orties, Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire, France
Approx. altitude: 167 m (547 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 48°S 177°W

Accuracy: 17 m (55 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: GPS Reading #3: Ground Zero #4: The Confluence Hunters #5: View to the South #6: View to the West #7: View to the North #8: The Occupants of the Confluence #9: The Pumpjack

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  48°N 3°E (visit #6)  

#1: The Confluence - View to the East

(visited by Rainer Mautz and Elionora)

16-May-2010 -- This report is the last out of a series of eight confluences that we visited on a tour from Zurich (Switzerland) to La Rochelle in France. The story starts from 47°N 6°E and continues from 46°N 1°W.

The quickest route from La Rochelle back to our home in Zurich (Switzerland) would miss this confluence by just 2.5 km. Although initially an agreement had been made to refrain from any confluencing activity, I was able to convince all members of the hunting party to make this little deviation and visit the confluence.

We started at 6 a.m. in La Rochelle, which is 500 km from the confluence. A GPS navigation system guided us to the confluence point. As previous visitors had also done – we parked our car in front of an oil (or water?) pump, although called pumpjack. It can mechanically lift liquid out of a well. It is used if there is not enough bottom hole pressure for the liquid to flow all the way to the surface and can produce 5 to 40 liters of liquid at each stroke. The pumpjack is just 120 m from the confluence, and therefore a distinct feature of this point. We parked at the road in 100 m distance and walked between a barley field and a meadow with pasture towards our goal. We were able to come as close as 16 m to the confluence point – a nearer approach would have meant to step into the barley field which was not harvested yet.

After completion of our visit, we directly drove back home where we got at 10 pm. Here, the story of our 4-day trip ends.

CP visit details:

  • Beeline distance from car parking: 103 m
  • Walking time (incl. return): 3 min
  • Time at the CP: 12:14 pm
  • Measured height: 172 m
  • Position accuracy at the CP: 4 m
  • Minimal distance to the CP: 16 m
  • Vegetation: In a barley field.
  • Distance to a road: 103 m
  • Distance to a track: 103 m
  • Distance to houses: 220 m (a nearby farm house)
  • Topography: flat.
  • Weather: sunny, 25° C (felt temperature)
  • Description of the CP: In an agricultural dominated area in the Département Loiret, in the Region Centre in France (100 km South of Paris). Exact location in the middle of a barley field. A watertower is nearby and can be used as a landmark.
  • Given Name: The Oil Pump Confluence


 All pictures
#1: The Confluence - View to the East
#2: GPS Reading
#3: Ground Zero
#4: The Confluence Hunters
#5: View to the South
#6: View to the West
#7: View to the North
#8: The Occupants of the Confluence
#9: The Pumpjack
ALL: All pictures on one page