title: Sarthe (river)
text: # Sarthe (river)
  
  The Sarthe (French pronunciation: (listen)) is a 313.9-kilometre-long (195.0 mi) river in western France. Together with the river Mayenne it forms the river Maine, which is a tributary to the river Loire.
  
  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.
  
  ## Navigation
  
  The Sarthe has 20 weirs and locks. The channel is well marked and navigation is straightforward, except for the risk of shoals in certain sections.
  
  