Allier (river)

Allier
Native name	L'Allier (f)
Other name(s)	Occitan: Alèir
Country	France
Basin
Main source	Massif Central 1,503 m (4,931 ft)
River mouth	Loire 46°57′34″N 3°4′44″E / 46.95944°N 3.07889°E / 46.95944; 3.07889Coordinates: 46°57′34″N 3°4′44″E / 46.95944°N 3.07889°E / 46.95944; 3.07889
Progression	Loire→ Atlantic Ocean
Basin size	14,350 km2 (5,540 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length	421 km (262 mi)
Discharge	Average rate: 140 m3/s (4,900 cu ft/s)

The Allier (Occitan: Alèir) is a river in central France. It is a left tributary of the Loire. Its source is in the Massif Central, in the Lozère department, east of Mende. It flows generally north. It joins the Loire west of the city of Nevers. It is 421 km (262 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 14,350 km² (5,540 sq mi).^[1]

Departments and towns along the river

• Allier: Moulins, Varennes-sur-Allier, Vichy
• Ardèche - the river runs along the border between this department and Lozère
• Cher
• Haute-Loire: Brioude, Langeac
• Lozère: Langogne
• Nièvre
• Puy-de-Dôme: Brassac-les-Mines, Auzat-sur-Allier, Issoire, Cournon-d'Auvergne

Tributaries include

• Chapeauroux (left side)
• Senouire (right side)
• Alagnon (left side)
• Anse
• Couze Pavin (left side)
• Dore (right side)
  • Dolore (left side)
• Morge (left side)
• Sioule (left side)
• Monne (left side)
  • Veyre (left side)

Ecology

Grayling in a sunny pool

The Allier River is one of the rare places in southern Europe where the freshwater grayling (Thymallus thymallus), known in French as ombre des rivières, occurs in a natural habitat.^[2]

Grayling like to live in shoals and are sensitive to pollution. In the Allier these fish are more abundant in the stretch between Langogne and Brioude. They are economically important, being appreciated for food and fished for sport.

Gallery

• 

  The bridge Le Guétin.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Allier River.

Wikisource has the text of a 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article about Allier River.