Loire (river)

Loire (river), longest river of France, rising in the Cévennes Mountain Range, southeastern France, at an elevation of 1,400 m (4,500 ft) above sea level. The river, 1,020 km (634 mi) long, flows north, northwest, southwest, and finally west through a 56-km (35-mi) long estuary into the Bay of Biscay. The lower course is protected by large dikes. The principal tributaries are the Nièvre and the Maine on the right and the Allier, Cher, Indre, and Vienne on the left. The Loire is canalized for many miles and is connected with the Seine and the Saône rivers and the harbor of Brest by canals. The valley is famous for its vineyards and Renaissance châteaux, such as Amboise, Blois, Chambord, and Chenonceaux. The area of drainage is about 120,950 sq km (about 46,700 sq mi).