Nive de Béhérobie, near Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

The Nive (Errobi in Basque; Niva / Nibe in Gascon) is a French river in the Basque Country, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department (Nouvelle Aquitaine), a left-bank tributary of the Adour.

The Nive rises at the foot of Mendi Zar (1,323 m), beyond the Spanish border, under the name Harpeko Erreka. Its main source is located at an altitude of 360 m.

The Nive is formed near Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port by the union of the Lower Navarrese torrents:

  • Nive de Béhérobie (main course)
  • Laurhibar
  • Nive d’Arnéguy

The Atekagaitz Gorges mark its passage through the historic province of Labourd. Its confluence with the Adour River occurs in Bayonne, on the left bank, at an altitude of 3 meters and less than 10 kilometers from the sea, the Bay of Biscay, and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Nive River is 79.3 km long in France.

The Nive is popular for sport fishing for salmonids and whitewater sports (rafting and canyoning in particular).

Main tributaries

  • Nive de Béhérobie
  • Laurhibar
  • Nive d’Arnéguy
  • Berroko erreka
  • Nive des Aldudes
  • Laka
  • Baztan
  • Mouline
  • Laxia
  • Arkatze erreka
  • Haltzuai (hotxako erreka)
  • Latsa, near Espelette
  • Latsa (or Latxa)
  • Antzara

See also France travel guide

See also Spain travel guide

See also Pyrenees travel guide

See also Andorra travel guide

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