The Eyrieux River is a tributary of the Rhône River

Rhône River

The Rhone is one of the major rivers of Europe, rising in Switzerland and running from there through southeastern France. At Arles, near its mouth on the Mediterranean Sea, the river divides into two branches, known as the Great Rhone and the Little Rhone...

 in Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

. The Eyrieux runs for 83 kilometres (52 mi). It begins in the Massif Central

Massif Central

The Massif Central is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaux....

 and joins the Rhône in the Rhône Valley just downstream of Valence

Valence, Drôme

Valence is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Drôme department, situated on the left bank of the Rhône, south of Lyon on the railway to Marseilles.Its inhabitants are called Valentinois...

.

The Eyrieux has at least three distinct landscapes. Above Le Cheylard

Le Cheylard

Le Cheylard is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-External links:*...

, the plateau is marked by the sugarloaf cones of old volcanoes, and the land is used mostly for raising cattle and sheep. In its middle section, down to Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut

Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut

Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut is a commune of the Ardèche department in southern France.The rivers Eyrieux, Gluyere and Auzène flow through the town.-Sights:...

 and Les Ollières-sur-Eyrieux

Les Ollières-sur-Eyrieux

Les Ollières-sur-Eyrieux is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.The nearest towns are Privas and Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut.-History:The first records of a settlement can be dated back to the 12th century...

, the river is torrential and prone to flash flood

Flash flood

A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...

s and extreme variation. Formerly used for silk

Silk

Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...

 mills, it is now used for micro-hydroelectric production, and is a popular spot for canoeing. The river never dries up in summer, as the many dams and barrages maintain a steady flow. The lower section to the Rhône, at Beauchastel

Beauchastel

Beauchastel is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France....

 and La Voulte-sur-Rhône

La Voulte-sur-Rhône

La Voulte-sur-Rhône is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.-Population:-Lagerstätte:La Voulte-sur-Rhône is a marine Lagerstätte located in France...

, opens into the valley and allows intensive farming, especially peach

Peach

The peach tree is a deciduous tree growing to tall and 6 in. in diameter, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It bears an edible juicy fruit called a peach...

orchards which are best viewed when the trees bloom in the spring.