Hérault (river)

The Hérault (French pronunciation: [eʁo] ^ⓘ; Occitan: Erau) is a river in southern France. Its length is 147.6 kilometres (91.7 mi).^[1] Its source is on the slopes of Mont Aigoual in the Cévennes mountains. It reaches the Mediterranean Sea near Agde.

Hérault
A bridge and aqueduct over the Hérault near Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, as seen from Pont du Diable
Native name	L'Hérault (French)
Location
Country	France
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Mont Aigoual Cévennes
Mouth
• location	Mediterranean Sea
• coordinates	43°16′57″N 3°26′39″E
Length	147.6 km (91.7 mi)
Basin size	2,900 km2 (1,100 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	50 m3/s (1,800 cu ft/s)

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.^[2][3]

Towns

The Hérault, Agde

The Hérault flows through the following departments and towns:

• Gard: Valleraugue.
• Hérault (named after the river): Ganges, Pézenas (nearby), Agde.

Tributaries

Arre Vis Rieutord Buèges

Lamalou Lergue Dourbie Boyne

Peyne Thongue

Navigation

The lower reaches of the Hérault, from Bessan to the sea at Agde, are navigable. The lowest 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) are tidal, whilst the next 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) 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.^[4][5]

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 kilometres (2.5 mi) or so.^[5]