Allier (river)

Allier
Origin	Massif Central
Mouth	Loire 46°57′34″N 3°4′44″E
Basin countries	France
Length	421 km
Source elevation	1,503 m
Avg. discharge	140 m³/s
Basin area	14,321 km²

The Allier (Occitan: Alèir) is a river in central France, and is the left tributary to the Loire River. Its source is in the Massif Central, in the Lozère département, east of Mende. It flows generally north. It joins the Loire River west of the city of Nevers.

Départements and towns along the river

• Allier: Moulins, Varennes-sur-Allier, Vichy
• Ardèche - the river is a border between this département 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)
• Morge (left side)
• Sioule (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.

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

Gallery

• 

  The bridge Le Guétin.

References

• The Allier at the Sandre database