Ardèche (river)

Ardèche
Pont d'Arc over the Ardèche River.
Origin	Massif Central 44°42′00″N 4°02′41″E / 44.7°N 4.04473°E / 44.7; 4.04473 (Ardeche)
Mouth	Rhône River 44°15′52″N 4°38′53″E / 44.26444°N 4.64806°E / 44.26444; 4.64806 (Rhône-Durance)Coordinates: 44°15′52″N 4°38′53″E / 44.26444°N 4.64806°E / 44.26444; 4.64806 (Rhône-Durance)
Basin countries	France
Length	125 km
Avg. discharge	65 m³/s
Basin area	2,430 km²

The Ardèche (Occitan: Ardecha) is a 125 km long river in south-central France, a right-bank tributary of the Rhône River. Its source is in the Massif Central, near the village of Astet. It flows into the Rhône near Pont-Saint-Esprit, north-west of Orange. The river gives its name to the French department of Ardèche.

The valley of the Ardèche is very scenic, in particular a 30km section known as the Ardèche Gorges. The walls of the river here are limestone cliffs up to 300m high. A kayak and camping trip down the gorge is not technically difficult and hugely popular in the summer. The most famous feature is a natural 60m stone arch spanning the river known as the Pont d'Arc (arch bridge).

Towns along the river

Ardèche River near Aubenas

Part of the Ardèche River

Ardèche River Panorama

The Ardèche flows through the following departments and towns:

• Ardèche (named after the river): Astet, Vals-les-Bains, Aubenas, Ruoms, Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche
• Lozère
• Gard: Pont-Saint-Esprit.

Tributaries

Tributaries of the Ardèche River include:

• Auzon
• Ligne
• Lignon
• Beaume
• Chassezac
• Ibie

See also

• Chauvet Cave

References

• http://www.geoportail.fr
• The Ardèche at the Sandre database

External links

• Trek Earth Photo