Var (river) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Var |
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| River | |
 The Var river in Entrevaux
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| Country |  France |
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| Region | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
| Departments | Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence |
| Tributaries | |
| - left | Tinée, Vésubie |
| - right | Estéron |
| Cities | Nice, Saint-Laurent-du-Var |
| Source | Alpes-Maritines |
| - location | Entraunes, Jura, France |
| - elevation | 1,790 m (5,873 ft) |
| - coordinates | 44°14′18″N 6°45′6″E / 44.23833°N 6.75167°E |
| Mouth | Mediterranean Sea |
| - location | Between Nice and Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Alpes-Maritimes, France |
| - elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| - coordinates | 43°39′15″N 7°12′0″E / 43.65417°N 7.20000°E |
| Length | 113.8 km (71 mi) |
| Basin | 2,819 km² (1,088 sq mi) |
| Discharge | for Nice |
| - average | 50.40 m³/s (1,780 cu ft/s) |
The Var (which means Varus in Latin) is a river in southeastern France. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Var river is special because it gave its name to a French area called the Var department, but the river itself does not flow through that department! This is very unusual in France.
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About the Var River
The Var river is about 113.8 km (70.7 mi) long. It has a drainage basin (the area of land where all the water flows into the river) of about 2,819 km2 (1,088 sq mi).
The amount of water flowing in the Var river changes. On average, about 50.40 m3/s (1,780 cu ft/s) of water passes by Nice every second. This measurement is taken near the Pont Napoléon III bridge in the Alpes-Maritimes department.
Where the Var River Starts
The Var river begins high up in the mountains. Its source is in a tiny village called Estenc. This village is part of the commune (a small administrative area) of Entraunes.
The river starts at an altitude (height above sea level) of about 1,790 m (5,873 ft). This spot is south of a mountain pass called Col de la Cayolle, which is 2,326 m (7,631 ft) high. The Var river then generally flows towards the southeast.
The Var river mostly flows through the Alpes-Maritimes department. However, it also passes through the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department for a short distance, about 15 km (9.3 mi).
The Var river flows through one region, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It also crosses two departments and passes through 31 communes. Some of the towns it flows near include:
- Alpes-Maritimes: Guillaumes, Puget-Théniers, Carros, Saint-Laurent-du-Var
- Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: Entrevaux
Finally, the Var river reaches the Mediterranean Sea. It flows into the sea between the cities of Nice and Saint-Laurent-du-Var.
Main Rivers Joining the Var
Smaller rivers that flow into a larger river are called tributaries. The Var river has several important tributaries.
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Rivers Joining from the Left:
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Rivers Joining from the Right:
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More About Rivers
See also
In Spanish: Río Var para niños
