Doubs | |
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The Doubs just before Besançon
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Native name | Le Doubs |
Other name(s) | German: Dub |
Country | France, Switzerland |
Basin | |
Main source |
Mouthe, Jura mountains 946 m (3,104 ft) 46°42′17″N 6°12′34″E / 46.70472°N 6.20944°E |
River mouth |
Saône 175 m (574 ft) 46°54′3″N 5°1′27″E / 46.90083°N 5.02417°ECoordinates: 46°54′3″N 5°1′27″E / 46.90083°N 5.02417°E |
Progression | Saône→ Rhône→ Mediterranean Sea |
Basin size | 7,500 km2 (2,900 sq mi) |
Physical characteristics | |
Length | 453 kilometres (281 mi) |
Discharge |
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Features | |
Tributaries | |
Lakes | , |
The Doubs (French: Le Doubs, French pronunciation: [du], German: Dub) is a 453 kilometres (281 mi) long river in eastern France and western Switzerland, left tributary of the Saône. Its source is near Mouthe in the western Jura mountains, at an altitude of 946 m. It is the tenth longest French river in terms of length within France.
From its source in Mouthe it flows northeast, more or less along the French-Swiss border (forming the border for approx. 40 km). Near Montbéliard it turns southwest, until it flows into the river Saône in Verdun-sur-le-Doubs, approx. 20 km northeast of Chalon-sur-Saône. Its entire course resembles an inverted letter U, with the northeastern corner the only point at which the Doubs flows into Switzerland as far as Saint-Ursanne. In Switzerland it traverses the cantons Jura and Neuchâtel.
The waterfall known as the Saut du Doubs is located on the French-Swiss border.
The Doubs flows through the following Departments of France, Cantons of Switzerland, and cities:
Tributaries include:
The river forms several lakes:
The rate of flow of the Doubs is very seasonally variable. The flooding season can stretch from September to May, with floods being occasioned either by heavy rains or by quick melting of snow from the Jura mountains. At its mouth, the discharge rate can vary from as low as 20 m³/s to over 1000 m³/s during floods.