Saar River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saar - Sarre
River
Saar loop at Mettlach
Countries	France, Germany
Départments	Moselle, Bas-Rhin
Bundesländer	Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate
Tributaries
- left	Nied
- right	Blies, Prims
Primary source	Sarre Blanche
- location	Vosges Mountains, Grand Est, France
Secondary source	Sarre Rouge
Mouth	Moselle River
- coordinates	49°42′5″N 6°34′11″E / 49.70139°N 6.56972°E / 49.70139; 6.56972
Length	246 km (153 mi)
Basin	7,431 km² (2,869 sq mi)
Discharge	for the confluence with the Moselle River
- average	75 m³/s (2,649 cu ft/s)

The Saar (in French: Sarre) is a river that flows through northeastern France and western Germany. It is a major branch, or tributary, of the Moselle River. The Saar begins in the Vosges Mountains in France and flows northwards. It eventually joins the Moselle River near the city of Trier in Germany.

The first time the Saar River was written about was in a Latin poem called Mosella. This poem was written by a Roman poet named Decimus Magnus Ausonius. He called the river Saravus.

Saar River Facts

Source of the Red Saar

Source of the White Saar

The Saar River is the longest tributary of the Moselle River. It is about 246 kilometers (153 miles) long. The area of land that drains into the Saar River, called its drainage basin, is about 7,431 square kilometers (2,869 square miles).

Where the Saar River Flows

The Saar River starts at the bottom of Mont Donon. This is the highest peak in the northern part of the Vosges Mountains.

The river first flows for about 126 kilometers (78 miles) through the French region of Grand Est. For about 11 kilometers (7 miles), the Saar River forms the border between France and Germany. This happens after it joins with the Blies river, between the towns of Sarreguemines and Saarbrücken. After this, the river enters Germany.

The Saar then flows for about 68 kilometers (42 miles) through the German state of Saarland. It then travels about 31 kilometers (19 miles) through Rhineland-Palatinate. Finally, it flows into the Moselle River at Konz. This spot is between Trier and the border with Luxembourg.

The Start of the Saar: Red and White Saars

The Saar River actually begins from two smaller rivers. These are called the Sarre Rouge (Red Saar) and Sarre Blanche (White Saar).

Both the Red and White Saar rivers start on Mont Donon. Their starting points are less than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) apart. The White Saar begins near Grandfontaine in the Bas-Rhin department. The Red Saar starts near Abreschviller in the Moselle department. These two rivers meet near Hermelange, south of Sarrebourg.

The meeting point of the Red Saar (in the back) and White Saar (under the bridge)

Here are some facts about the two rivers that form the Saar:

The Saar River and its two starting rivers first flow through the Moselle department in France. Then, for a short distance, they go through the Bas-Rhin department. From Sarrealbe to Sarreguemines, the Saar flows along the border with Germany. At Sarreguemines, the Blies river joins the Saar. The Blies is the largest river that flows into the Saar.

The Middle and Lower Saar

From Sarreguemines, the Saar River becomes navigable. This means it is deep, wide, and calm enough for ships to travel on it. The Saar then enters Germany. It flows through a narrow valley in the western Rhenish Massif mountains.

At the beginning of this part of its journey, the Saar forms a very famous bend. This is known as the Saar loop (in German: Saarschleife) near the town of Mettlach.

After flowing for 246 kilometers (153 miles), the Saar River joins the Moselle River. This happens at Konz in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. This area is known for growing Grapes. These grapes are used to make wine, especially between the towns of Serrig and Konz.

Rivers Joining the Saar

View of the Saar River from Saarburg

Many smaller rivers and streams flow into the Saar River. These are called tributaries. Here are some of the important ones:

Cities and Towns Along the Saar

Many towns and cities are located along the banks of the Saar River. Here are some of them:

Related Pages

• List of rivers of France
• List of rivers of Germany
• Mosel-Saar-Ruwer

Images for kids

• 

  Bridge over the Saar at Saarbrücken

• 

  Course of the Saar (1703)

• 

  Confluence of Saar and Moselle in Konz

See also

In Spanish: Río Sarre para niños