The Lez (French pronunciation: [lɛz]; Occitan: Les) is a 29.6-kilometre (18.4 mi) river in the Hérault department in southern France.[1] It is the main river of the city of Montpellier. The river has its source in the forest 5 km north of Saint-Clément-de-Rivière and it flows into the Mediterranean Sea at Palavas-les-Flots after first passing between two large lagoons and intersecting with the Canal du Rhône à Sète. Its longest tributary is the Mosson. The small fish Cottus petiti is endemic to a short stretch of the Lez.
| Le Lez | |
|---|---|
 | |
   | |
| Native name | Le Lez (French) |
| Location | |
| Country | France |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Saint-Clément-de-Rivière |
| • coordinates | 43°43′5″N 3°50′39″E / 43.71806°N 3.84417°E |
| Mouth | |
• location | Mediterranean Sea (Palavas-les-Flots) |
• coordinates | 43°31′33″N 3°56′2″E / 43.52583°N 3.93389°E |
| Length | 29.6 kilometres (18.4 mi) |