Scheldt Estuary

Scheldt
The Scheldt in Antwerp
Course of the Scheldt
Native name	French: l'Escaut (m), Walloon: Escô, Dutch: Schelde
Country	France, Belgium, Netherlands
Basin features
Main source	France 97 m (318 ft)
River mouth	North Sea 51°25′51″N 3°31′44″E / 51.43083°N 3.52889°E / 51.43083; 3.52889 (North Sea-Scheldt)Coordinates: 51°25′51″N 3°31′44″E / 51.43083°N 3.52889°E / 51.43083; 3.52889 (North Sea-Scheldt)
Basin size	21,863 km2 (8,441 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length	360 km (220 mi)
Discharge	Average rate: 120 m3/s (4,200 cu ft/s)

The Scheldt (/ʃɛlt/, French: l'Escaut [ɛsko], Walloon: Escô, Dutch: Schelde [ˈsxɛldə]) is a 350-kilometre (220 mi) long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands. Its name is derived from an adjective corresponding to Old English sceald "shallow", Modern English shoal, Low German schol, Frisian skol, and Swedish (obsolete) skäll "thin".

The headwaters of the Scheldt are in Gouy, in the Aisne department of northern France. It flows north through Cambrai and Valenciennes, and enters Belgium near Tournai. In Ghent, where it receives the Lys, one of its main tributaries, the Scheldt turns east. Near Antwerp, the largest city on its banks, the Scheldt flows west into the Netherlands towards the North Sea.