Cher (river)

Cher
The Cher
Native name	Le Cher Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help)
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Massif Central
• elevation	762 m (2,500 ft)
Mouth
• location	Loire
Length	396 km (246 mi)
Basin size	13,688 km2 (5,285 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	104 m3/s (3,700 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Loire→ Atlantic Ocean

The Cher (Occitan: Char) is a river in central France, left tributary to the river Loire. Its source is in the Creuse département, north-east of Crocq. It joins the river Loire in Villandry, west of Tours.

The river suffered a devastating flood in 1940, which damaged Château de Chenonceau, which spans the river, and other structures along the banks.

Départements and towns along the river:

• Creuse
• Allier: Montluçon
• Cher: Saint-Amand-Montrond, Vierzon
• Loir-et-Cher
• Indre-et-Loire: Tours

Main tributaries are, from spring to mouth (L: left / R: right):

• (L) Tardes
  • (L) Voueize
• (R) Amaron or Lamaron at Montluçon
• (R) Aumance at Meaulne
• (R) Yèvre at Vierzon, from Le Berry
  • (L) Auron
  • (R) Colin
• (L) Arnon at Vierzon, from the Petite-Marche
  • (L) Théols
• (R) Sauldre collecting waters from the Sologne
• (L) Fouzon above Saint-Aignan

It owes its name to the pre-Indo-European root kʰar 'stone'.

References

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