Hérault (river)

The Hérault (Erau) is a river in southern France. Its length is 147.6 km. Its source is on the slopes of Mont Aigoual in the Cévennes mountains. It reaches the Mediterranean Sea near Agde.

Name
The river was known in Latin as Arauris (or Araura by Strabo). The name is sometimes considered Pre-Celtic although the element Ara- suggests a Celtic root.

Towns


The Hérault flows through the following departments and towns:
 * Gard: Valleraugue.
 * Hérault (named after the river): Ganges, Pézenas (nearby), Agde.

Navigation
The lower reaches of the Hérault, from Bessan to the sea at Agde, are navigable. The lowest 2.5 km are tidal, whilst the next 1 km forms part of the Canal du Midi. These two sections of the river are linked to each other, and to the Canal du Midi to the west, by short junction canals and the famous Agde Round Lock.

At the upper end of the section of the Hérault used by the Canal du Midi, the Prades Lock provides access to the Canal du Midi to the east. Above this lock, the river is navigable for a further 4 km or so.