SAONE RIVER

river that rises near Viomnil, southwest of pinal, in eastern France, and flows generally southward to join the Rhne River at Lyon. From its source it flows southwestward into Haute-Sane dpartement near Corre, where it meets the Canal de l'Est. It flows through Gray to Pontailler-sur-Sane and crosses Cte d'Or dpartement to enter Sane-et-Loire dpartement, where it is joined by the Doubs River, its major tributary. It then passes Chalon-sur-Sane, Tournus, Mcon, and Villefranche before joining the Rhne after a course of 300 miles (480 km). The Sane is navigable upstream from Lyon for 233 miles (375 km) to Corre and has 30 locks along its course, which is almost completely canalized. Barge traffic is heavy along its lower course. Its basin is about 11,600 square miles (30,000 square km) in area. The Sane is connected by canal to both the Rhine and the Seine rivers.