Loire River

The Loire River is the longest river in France. It is 1,006 km long. It originates in the Massif Central. Its mouth is near Nantes by the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire gives its name to 6 French departments. For years, the Loire was very important for France's commerce. When the railway developed in the 19th century, it put an end to its importance.

Tributaries

The Loire's tributaries include the following rivers, in order going upstream:
 Acheneau (near Le Pellerin)
 Sèvre Nantaise (in Nantes)
 Erdre (in Nantes)
 Layon (in Chalonnes-sur-Loire)
Maine (near Angers) 
Mayenne (near Angers)
Sarthe (near Angers)
Loir (near Angers)
Ernée (in Saint-Jean-sur-Mayenne)
Braye (in Pont-de-Braye)
Aigre (near Cloyes-sur-le-Loir)
Yerre (near Cloyes-sur-le-Loir)
Conie (near Châteaudun)
Ozanne (in Bonneval)
Huisne (in Le Mans)
Thouet (near Saumur)
Dive (near Saint-Just-sur-Dive)
Losse (near Montreuil-Bellay)
Argenton (near Saint-Martin-de-Sanzay)
Thouaret (near Taizé)
Cébron (near Saint-Loup-sur-Thouet)
Palais (near Parthenay)
Viette (near Parthenay)
Vienne (in Candes-Saint-Martin)
Creuse (north of Châtellerault)
Gartempe (in La Roche-Posay)
Clain (in Châtellerault)
Indre (east of Montsoreau)
Cher (in Villandry)
Sauldre (in Selles-sur-Cher)
Arnon (near Vierzon)
Yèvre (in Vierzon)
Auron (in Bourges)
Beuvron (in Chaumont-sur-Loire)
Loiret (in Orléans)
Allier (near Nevers)
Sioule (near Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule)
Dore (near Puy-Guillaume)
Allagnon (near Jumeaux)
Ance (in Monistrol-d'Allier)
Nièvre (in Nevers)
Acolin (near Decize)
Aron (in Decize)
Besbre (near Dompierre-sur-Besbre)
Arroux (in Digoin)
Furan (in Andrézieux-Bouthéon)

Category:Rivers of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Category:Rivers of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Category:Rivers of Centre-Val de Loire
Category:Rivers of Pays de la Loire