Ariège (river)

Ariège
Ariège River near Ax-les-Thermes.
Origin	Pyrenees
Mouth	Garonne 43°31′2″N 1°24′36″E / 43.51722°N 1.41000°E / 43.51722; 1.41000 (Garonne-Ariège)Coordinates: 43°31′2″N 1°24′36″E / 43.51722°N 1.41000°E / 43.51722; 1.41000 (Garonne-Ariège)
Basin countries	France, Andorra
Length	164 km
Source elevation	± 2400 m
Avg. discharge	65 m³/s
Basin area	3,860 km²

The Ariège (Occitan: Arièja) is a 164 km long river in southern France, right tributary of the Garonne. Its source is in the Pyrenees, where it forms part of the border with Andorra. It flows north through the following départements and towns:

• Ariège (named after the river): Ax-les-Thermes, Les Cabannes, Tarascon-sur-Ariège, Montgaillard, Foix, Varilhes, Pamiers, Saverdun.
• Haute-Garonne: Cintegabelle, Auterive.

It flows into the Garonne in Portet-sur-Garonne, south of Toulouse. If the Latin origin of its name (Aurigera) is to be trusted, the Ariège is supposed to carry gold nuggets.

References

• http://www.geoportail.fr
• The Ariège at the Sandre database
• History and real-time water heights of Ariege river, Garonne river, and other tributaries

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ariège River.