The Sarthe (French pronunciation: [saʁt] ^ⓘ) is a 313.9-kilometre-long (195.0 mi) river in western France.^[1] Together with the river Mayenne it forms the river Maine, which is a tributary to the river Loire.

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Quick Facts Native name, Location ...

Sarthe
The navigable river Sarthe between Morannes and Chemiré-sur-Sarthe
Native name	La Sarthe (French)
Location
Country	France
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Perche
• elevation	250 m (820 ft)
Mouth
• location	Maine
• coordinates	47°29′35″N 0°32′34″W
Length	313.9 km (195.0 mi)
Basin size	7,864 km2 (3,036 sq mi)*
Discharge
• average	80 m3/s (2,800 cu ft/s)*
Basin features
Progression	Maine→ Loire→ Atlantic Ocean
Notes	*excluding Loir

Close

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.^[1]

The Sarthe has 20 weirs and locks.^{[citation needed]} The channel is well marked and navigation is straightforward, except for the risk of shoals in certain sections.