Allier (river)

The Allier (UK: /ˈælieɪ/ AL-ee-ay, US: /ælˈjeɪ, ɑːlˈjeɪ/ a(h)l-YAY, French: [alje] ; 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).

Allier
Bridge over the Allier in Brioude, Haute-Loire.
Map of the Allier in France [1]
Native name	Alèir (Occitan)
Location
Country	France
Physical characteristics
Source	Moure de la Gardille, Margeride
• location	Massif Central
• coordinates	44°35′23″N 3°48′04″E
• elevation	1,503 m (4,931 ft)
Mouth
• location	Loire (bec d'Allier, Cuffy/Gimouille)
• coordinates	46°57′34″N 3°4′44″E
• elevation	167 m (548 ft)
Length	421 km (262 mi)
Basin size	14,350 km2 (5,540 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	140 m3/s (4,900 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Loire→ Atlantic Ocean

Departments and towns

The Allier flows through the following departments, and along the following towns, from source to mouth:

• Lozère: La Bastide-Puylaurent, Langogne;
• Ardèche - the river runs along the border between this department and Lozère;
• Haute-Loire: Monistrol-d'Allier, Langeac, Brioude;
• Puy-de-Dôme: Brassac-les-Mines, Auzat-la-Combelle, Issoire, Cournon-d'Auvergne, Pont-du-Château;
• Allier: Saint-Yorre, Vichy, Varennes-sur-Allier, Moulins, Château-sur-Allier;
• Cher: Mornay-sur-Allier;
• Nièvre.

Tributaries

The main tributaries of the Allier are:

• Chapeauroux (left side);
• Senouire (right side);
• Alagnon (left side);
• Ance du Sud (left side);
• Couze Pavin (left side);
• Veyre (left side);
  • Monne (left side);
• Dore (right side);
  • Dolore (left side);
• Morge (left side);
• Sichon (right side);
• Sioule (left side).

Ecology

Grayling in a sunny pool

The Allier 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 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

• 
  Coudes, Puy-de-Dôme.
• 
  Vichy, Allier.
• 
  Pont Régemortes in Moulins, Allier.
• 
  The bridge Le Guétin.