Sarthe (river)
# Sarthe (river)

The Sarthe (French pronunciation: (listen)) is a 313.9-kilometre-long (195.0 mi) river in western France. Together with the river Mayenne it forms the river Maine, which is a tributary to the river Loire.

Its source is in the Orne department, near Moulins-la-Marche. It flows generally southwest, through the following departments and towns:

* Orne: Le Mêle-sur-Sarthe, Alençon
* Sarthe: Fresnay-sur-Sarthe, Beaumont-sur-Sarthe, Le Mans, Sablé-sur-Sarthe
* Maine-et-Loire: Châteauneuf-sur-Sarthe, Tiercé, Angers

Its main tributaries are the Loir and the Huisne from the left, and the Vaige, the Erve and the Vègre from the right.

## Navigation

The Sarthe has 20 weirs and locks. The channel is well marked and navigation is straightforward, except for the risk of shoals in certain sections.

