ABSTRACT
The Loire River is the longest river (about 1 ,080 km) in France, which drains an area of about 1 1 7,000 square km. The Loire basin has a temperate maritime climate with heavy precipitation, including winter snowfall in the highlands that occupy its upper basin. The area of its headwaters is also subject to violent autumn storms from the Mediterranean. The river water level is usually highest in late winter, but there is no reliable rule; floods may occur in any month, though normally not in July and August
("Loire River." Encyclopaedia Britannica, 200 1 ) . The location of the Loire River is shown in Figure 6 . 1 and the tributaries of the river are shown in Figure 6 .2 .
