Editing Cambrai (section)

==Geography==
===Location===
[[File:Cambrai-Position.png|thumb|right|Geographic situation of Cambrai in the Nord department]]

The town of Cambrai is situated in the southern part of the Nord Department, of which it is [[chef-lieu]] of the [[Arrondissement of Cambrai|arrondissement]]. It belongs to the dense network of the cities of the area which are separated by a few tens of kilometres: [[Douai]] is only {{convert|24|km}} away, [[Valenciennes]] is {{convert|29|km}}, [[Arras]] is {{convert|35|km}} and [[Saint-Quentin, Aisne|Saint-Quentin]] {{convert|37|km}}, all measured [[as the crow flies]].<ref>[https://www.villorama.com/ville/cambrai/villes-proches.html Quelques villes proches de Cambrai], villorama.com</ref> The regional capital, [[Lille]], is {{convert|52|km}} from Cambrai.

Cambrai is not very far from several European capitals: [[Brussels]] is {{convert|108|km}} away, [[Paris]] is {{convert|160|km}} and [[London]] is {{convert|279|km}}.

The city was born and developed on the right bank of the [[Scheldt]] river, locally known as the Escaut. The river has its source in the department of [[Aisne]], just a little over {{convert|20|km}} away.

{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Cambrai
 | NW = [[Tilloy-lez-Cambrai]]<br />[[Neuville-Saint-Rémy]]
 | N = [[Ramillies, Nord|Ramillies]]
 | NE = [[Escaudœuvres]]
 | W = [[Fontaine-Notre-Dame, Nord|Fontaine-Notre-Dame]]<br />[[Raillencourt-Sainte-Olle]]
 | E = [[Cauroir]]
 | SW = [[Proville]]
 | S = [[Niergnies]]<br />[[Rumilly-en-Cambrésis]]
 | SE = [[Awoingt]]
}}

===Geology and landforms===
[[File:NPdC relief Cambrai.png|thumb|right|Cambrai in its topographical context]]

Cambrai is located on [[chalk]] bedrock of the [[Cretaceous]] period{{cn|date=June 2024}}, which forms the northern boundary of the [[Paris Basin]], between, to the east, the hills for [[Thiérache]] and [[Arrondissement of Avesnes-sur-Helpe|Avesnois]], the foothills of the {{Interlanguage link multi|Massif ardennais|fr|3=Massif ardennais|lt=Ardennes}}, and northwest, the hills of [[Artois]]. It is at a point which is relatively lower than these two regions, called the "Cambrai threshold" or the "Bapaume threshold", which facilitates the passage between the south and the north: Bapaume (Artois) is {{convert|100|m|ft}} above sea level, [[Avesnes-sur-Helpe]] (Avesnois) is at {{convert|143|m|ft}} and Cambrai only {{convert|41|m|ft}}. The [[Canal de Saint-Quentin|Saint-Quentin canal]], the [[Canal du Nord]], the [[A1 autoroute (France)|A1]], [[A2 autoroute (France)|A2]] and [[A26 autoroute|A26]] autoroutes all borrow all this passage between the basin of the [[Seine]] and the plains of the Nord department.

The chalky subsoil allowed, as in many medieval cities, the digging of a network of cellars, tunnels and quarries under the city. The poor quality of the Cambrai chalk was reserved for use in the manufacture of lime or filling, as well as common constructions. For prestigious buildings, stone from the nearby villages of [[Noyelles-sur-Escaut]], [[Rumilly-en-Cambrésis|Rumilly]] or [[Marcoing]] was used.<ref group="a" name="p.37">p.37</ref>

The city is bordered in its western part, as well as to the north and the south, by the alluvial zones of the Scheldt Valley.

===Hydrography===
[[File:Tour des Arquets Cambrai 2.JPG|thumb|right|The Tower of Arquets (14th century) controlled the entry of the Scheldt in the city and the flood defences.]]

Cambrai is built on the right bank of the [[Scheldt]]. The river, still of a very modest flow in Cambrai,<ref>[[Discharge (hydrology)|Inter annual average flow]] {{convert|1.9|m3|cuyd}} at [[Proville]]. See :
{{cite web| url = http://www.eau-artois-picardie.fr/-Escaut-.html?title=voir| title = Escaut| work = Agence de l'eau Artois-Picardie| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150520162240/http://www.eau-artois-picardie.fr/-Escaut-.html?title=voir| archive-date = 2015-05-20}}</ref> played a crucial role in the history of the city by providing multiple functions, including allowing the transportation of men and goods since antiquity. However, it was undeveloped and was crossed by numerous marshes. It was with the discovery of coal at [[Anzin]] in 1734 that the Scheldt was expanded and declared navigable in 1780, from Cambrai to the [[North Sea]].<ref group=a>p.66</ref> The Scheldt is today the [[Canal de l'Escaut]] downstream of Cambrai.

In addition, the river initially served as the boundary between the bishoprics of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Tournai|Tournai]] on its left bank and [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cambrai|Cambrai]] on its right bank, from the 6th century.<ref group=c>p.46</ref> When the division of [[Charlemagne]]'s Empire in 843, this border was retained to delimit the kingdoms of [[Lothair I]] and [[Charles the Bald]], making Cambrai a city of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] until 1677.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

The Scheldt was also indispensable to many economic activities, such as the tanning, milling, the manufacture of salt and soap,<ref group="a" name="p.62">p.62</ref> as well as for [[retting]] of [[linen]], the weaving of which was one of the main activities of the city.<ref group="b" name="p.98">p.98</ref>

Finally, the river was used in the [[Middle Ages]] and then by [[Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban|Vauban]], for the defence of the city by the establishment of flood defensive areas.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

Despite its important role in the history of the city, the Scheldt is little integrated into the present urban landscape.

===Climate===
:Main article: ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Climate of Nord-Pas-de-Calais|fr|3=Climat du Nord-Pas-de-Calais}}''

Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year round.  The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this climate is "[[Köppen climate classification#Group C: Temperate/mesothermal climates|Cfb]]" (Marine West Coast Climate/[[Oceanic climate]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=71070&cityname=Cambrai,+Nord-Pas-de-Calais,+France&units=|title=Cambrai, France Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> However, the city is about {{convert|110|km|mi}} from the nearest coast.<ref group=note>[[Dunkirk]] is {{convert|113|km|mi}}, [[Berck]] is {{convert|121|km|mi}}.</ref>

[[Precipitation]] is distributed year-round, with highs in the spring and autumn, with February being the driest month. Contrasting with the rainy image of the region, the total annual precipitation is relatively small with {{convert|642|mm|in}} at Cambrai-Épinoy; identical to the Montsouris Paris station, which is at the same altitude, it is less than those of [[Toulouse]] at {{convert|656|mm|in}} or [[Nice]] at {{convert|767|mm|in}}. However, the number of days of rain (63 in Nice, 120 in Cambrai) confirms the oceanic character of the climate.

The mean [[Atmospheric temperature range|thermal amplitude]] between the winter and summer does not exceed 15&nbsp;°C. Although again establishing a comparison with Paris, that Cambrai is 1.5 to 2&nbsp;°C colder over all combined seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/index.php?s=07156&aff=details|title = données climatiques de Paris Montsouris, période 1961–1990|work = infoclimat.fr}}</ref> On average, there are 71 days of fog per year (Paris-Montsouris has 13) 15 days of storm (Paris-Montsouris has 19) and 20 days with snow (Paris-Montsouris has 15).

If comparing the data of Cambrai and those of towns such as [[Dunkirk]] or [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]],<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.meteo59-62.com/index.php5?page=climat-nord-pas-de-calais#tnm|title = Le climat du Nord – Pas de Calais|work = le site de l'association Météorologique du Nord – Pas de Calais|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131018043101/http://meteo59-62.com/index.php5?page=climat-nord-pas-de-calais#tnm|archive-date = 2013-10-18}}</ref> there are colder minimum temperatures and a warmer maximum in Cambrai, the difference being approximately 2&nbsp;°C, as well as a larger number of freezing days and less heavy precipitation: It's described a "transitional" oceanic climate, with some continental influences.

The temperature record in Cambrai is {{convert|38.2|°C|°F}}, which was established on 6 August 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.recordmeteo.com/weather-records/france.php?lang=fr&cd=cambrai&frname=Cambrai|title=Record Meteo|access-date=19 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520185006/http://www.recordmeteo.com/weather-records/france.php?lang=fr&cd=cambrai&frname=Cambrai|archive-date=20 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> (data collected since 1954 and record updated to 5 September 2013).

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location =   Cambrai (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1954–present)
|Jan record high C = 14.9
|Feb record high C = 18.6
|Mar record high C = 23.3
|Apr record high C = 27.6
|May record high C = 30.9
|Jun record high C = 34.7
|Jul record high C = 41.8
|Aug record high C = 38.2
|Sep record high C = 34.7
|Oct record high C = 28.6
|Nov record high C = 19.5
|Dec record high C = 16.2
|Jan record low C = -19.8
|Feb record low C = -17.2
|Mar record low C = -11.4
|Apr record low C = -4.5
|May record low C = -1.3
|Jun record low C = 1.2
|Jul record low C = 4.5
|Aug record low C = 5.0
|Sep record low C = 0.8
|Oct record low C = -5.4
|Nov record low C = -9.0
|Dec record low C = -12.8
|Jan high C = 6.2
|Feb high C = 7.3
|Mar high C = 11.1
|Apr high C = 15.0
|May high C = 18.4
|Jun high C = 21.4
|Jul high C = 23.8
|Aug high C = 23.8
|Sep high C = 20.3
|Oct high C = 15.3
|Nov high C = 10.0
|Dec high C = 6.7
| year high C = 14.9
|Jan mean C = 3.8
|Feb mean C = 4.4
|Mar mean C = 7.2
|Apr mean C = 10.1
|May mean C = 13.5
|Jun mean C = 16.4
|Jul mean C = 18.6
|Aug mean C = 18.6
|Sep mean C = 15.5
|Oct mean C = 11.6
|Nov mean C = 7.2
|Dec mean C = 4.4
| year mean C = 10.9
|Jan low C = 1.3
|Feb low C = 1.5
|Mar low C = 3.3
|Apr low C = 5.2
|May low C = 8.6
|Jun low C = 11.4
|Jul low C = 13.4
|Aug low C = 13.3
|Sep low C = 10.8
|Oct low C = 8.0
|Nov low C = 4.5
|Dec low C = 2.0
| year low C = 6.9
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 54.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 47.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 50.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 42.7
|May precipitation mm = 56.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 63.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 67.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 67.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 56.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 63.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 62.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 69.7
|year precipitation mm = 702.9
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 10.9
| Feb precipitation days = 10.4
| Mar precipitation days = 9.9
| Apr precipitation days = 8.9
| May precipitation days = 9.6
| Jun precipitation days = 9.3
| Jul precipitation days = 9.8
| Aug precipitation days = 9.4
| Sep precipitation days = 9.3
| Oct precipitation days = 10.8
| Nov precipitation days = 12.1
| Dec precipitation days = 12.2
| year precipitation days =122.7
|source 1 = Meteociel<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=62298001
|title=Normales et records pour Cambrai-Épinoy (62)
|publisher=Meteociel
|access-date=21 November 2024}}</ref>}}

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  bar:Oct color:blue
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