Allier (river)
River in central France From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Allier (UK: /ˈælieɪ/ AL-ee-ay,[1] US: /ælˈjeɪ, ɑːlˈjeɪ/ a(h)l-YAY,[2][3] 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).[4]
| Allier | |
|---|---|
Bridge over the Allier in Brioude, Haute-Loire. | |
 | |
 | |
| 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:
Ecology
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.[5]
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.
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References
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