Rhône facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rhône |
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View over the Rhône flowing from Valais into Lake Geneva
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| Native name | Rotten (Walser) Rôno (Arpitan) Ròse (Occitan) |
| Other name(s) | Rhone |
| Country | Switzerland, France |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Rhône Glacier Valais, Switzerland 2,208 m (7,244 ft) |
| River mouth | Mediterranean Sea France 0 m (0 ft) 43°19′51″N 4°50′44″E / 43.33083°N 4.84556°E |
| Length | 813 km (505 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 98,000 km2 (38,000 sq mi) |
The Rhône is a very important river in Switzerland and France. It flows for about 813 kilometers (505 miles). This long river starts high up in the mountains at the Rhône Glacier in Switzerland. It then travels through beautiful landscapes, joins other rivers like the Saône in France, and finally empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhône is one of the biggest rivers flowing into the Mediterranean.
Contents
The Mighty Rhône River
The Rhône River is a major waterway in Europe. It plays a big role in the lives of people in both Switzerland and France. From its icy beginnings to its warm sea ending, the river changes a lot.
Where Does the Rhône Start?
The Rhône River begins its journey in the Valais region of Switzerland. Its source is the famous Rhône Glacier, a large ice formation high in the mountains. The river starts at an elevation of about 2,208 meters (7,244 feet) above sea level.
From the glacier, the river flows through the Swiss Alps. It then enters Lake Geneva, one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. After leaving Lake Geneva, the Rhône continues its path into France.
The Rhône's Journey Through France
Once in France, the Rhône flows south. It passes through important cities like Lyon and Avignon. In Lyon, it meets another big river, the Saône. This meeting point is very important for river traffic.
The Rhône is a powerful river. It carries a lot of water, especially during floods. On average, about 1,710 cubic meters (60,380 cubic feet) of water flow per second. During big floods, this can jump to over 12,000 cubic meters (423,776 cubic feet) per second!
Ending in the Mediterranean Sea
The Rhône River finally empties into the Mediterranean Sea. It forms a delta, which is an area where the river splits into many smaller channels before reaching the sea. This delta is in southern France.
The Rhône is the second-largest river that flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Only the Nile River brings more water to this sea. The area drained by the Rhône River is huge, covering about 98,000 square kilometers (37,838 square miles).
Images for kids
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Mouth of the Rhone
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Pont du Mont-Blanc in Geneva, marking the outflow from Lake Geneva (right)
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The Rhône in Lyon under the old Boucle's Bridge
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The Rhône at Avignon
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Almost all tributaries more than 36 km (22 mi) long. The portion of the Rhône above Brig-Glis is labelled by its native Walliser German name, Rotten
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See also
In Spanish: Ródano para niños
