Arve

For other uses, see Arve (disambiguation).

Arve
The Arve near Annemasse, Haute-Savoie
Native name	L'Arve (French)
Location
Countries	France Switzerland
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Col des Montets near Chamonix
• coordinates	46.00341°N 6.92029°E / 46.00341; 6.92029
• elevation	1,516 m (4,974 ft)
Mouth
• location	Rhône in Geneva
• coordinates	46.20129°N 6.12197°E / 46.20129; 6.12197
• elevation	370 m (1,210 ft)
Length	108 km (67 mi)
Basin size	1,976 km2 (763 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	79 m3/s (2,800 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Rhône→ Mediterranean Sea

The Arve (French: L'Arve, French pronunciation: [aʁv]) is a river in France (département of Haute-Savoie), and Switzerland (canton of Geneva). A left tributary of the Rhône, it is 108 km (67 mi) long, of which 9 km in Switzerland. Its catchment area is 1,976 km² (763 sq mi), of which 80 km² in Switzerland. Its average discharge in Geneva is 79 m³/s (2,800 cu ft/s).

Rising in the northern side of the Mont Blanc massif in the Alps, close to the Swiss border, it receives water from the many glaciers of the Chamonix valley (mainly the Mer de Glace) before flowing north-west into the Rhône on the west side of Geneva, where its much higher level of silt brings forth a striking contrast between the two rivers.

The Arve flows through Chamonix, Sallanches, Oëx, Cluses, Bonneville, Annemasse and Geneva. Tributaries include, from source to mouth: Arveyron, Diosaz, Bon-Nant, Sallanche, Giffre, Borne, Menoge, Foron, Seymaz and Aire.

Gallery

• 
  the river Arve in a period of floodings as it joins the Rhone river in Jonction (Geneva)
• 
  The Arve (right) meets the Rhône in Geneva
• 
  The Arve in Chamonix