Cher (river)
| Cher | |
|---|---|
The Cher | |
| Native name | Char (Occitan) |
| Location | |
| Country | France |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Massif Central |
| • elevation | 762 m (2,500 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Loire |
• coordinates | 47°20′33″N 0°28′49″E / 47.34250°N 0.48028°E |
| Length | 365.1 km (226.9 mi) |
| Basin size | 13,718 km2 (5,297 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 104 m3/s (3,700 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Loire→ Atlantic Ocean |
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The Cher (/ʃɛər/ SHAIR, French: [ʃɛʁ] ⓘ; Occitan: Char) is a river in central France, a left tributary of the Loire. It is 365.1 km (226.9 mi) long, and its basin area is 13,718 km2 (5,297 sq mi). Its source is in the Creuse department, north-east of Crocq. It joins the river Loire at Villandry, west of Tours.
The river suffered a devastating flood in 1940, which damaged the Château de Chenonceau, which spans the river, and other structures along the banks. It owes its name to the pre-Indo-European root kʰar 'stone'.