| Loire River |
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| image_name = Loire river DSC02485.jpg | caption = The Loire in Orléans . | origin = Massif Central | mouth = Atlantic Ocean | basin_countries = France | length = 1,012 km | elevation = 1,408 m | discharge = 850 m³/s | watershed = 117,000 km&2 }} The Loire River (pronounced in French ), the longest River in France with a length of just over 1000 Km , drains an area of 117,000 Km² , more than a fifth of France. The central part of the Loire Valley was added on the World Heritage Sites list by the UNESCO On December 2 , 2000 . Origin of the name
In French the adjective derived from the river is ''ligérien'', as in ''le climat ligérien'' ("the climate of the Loire Valley"), a climate considered the most pleasant of northern France, with warmer winters and, more generally, fewer extremes in temperatures than in more continental climates. Geography Originating in the north-eastern part of the southern Cévennes highlands, the Loire flows roughly northward through Roanne and Nevers to Orléans and thereafter westward through Tours to the Atlantic at Nantes . The river's randomness has sometimes resulted in serious Flood ing, notably in 1856 , 1866 and 1910 . Unlike most other rivers in western Europe, there are very few Dam s or locks creating obstacles to its natural flow (the Villerest dam, built in 1985 a few kilometers south of Roanne , has played a key-role in preventing recent flooding). As a result, the Loire is a very popular river for boating excusions, flowing through a pastoral countryside, past limestone cliffs and storybook Castles . Tributaries Départements and towns Several Départements Of France were named after the Loire. The Loire flows through the following départements and towns: See also External links
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