Cher (river)

The Cher (Char) is a river in central France, a left tributary of the Loire. It is 365.1 km long, and its basin area is 13718 km2. 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'.

Departments and towns
The Cher flows through the following departments, and along the following towns:
 * Creuse
 * Allier: Montluçon
 * Cher: Saint-Amand-Montrond, Vierzon
 * Loir-et-Cher
 * Indre-et-Loire: Tours

Tributaries
The main tributaries of the Cher are, from spring to mouth (L: left / R: right):


 * (L) Tardes
 * (L) Voueize
 * (R) Amaron or Lamaron at Montluçon
 * (R) Aumance at Meaulne
 * (R) Yèvre at Vierzon
 * (L) Auron
 * (R) Colin
 * (L) Arnon at Vierzon
 * (L) Théols
 * (R) Sauldre at Selles-sur-Cher
 * (L) Fouzon above Saint-Aignan

Navigation
The Cher was part of a network of waterways that linked the city of Tours to Nevers, where connections to other regions of France existed. , only the 54 km section between Larçay (southeast of Tours) and Noyers-sur-Cher is navigable for small boats (maximum draft 80 cm). It has 14 locks. At Noyers-sur-Cher, it is connected with the Canal de Berry, of which only the westernmost 15 km section until Selles-sur-Cher is navigable.