The Allier ( , , ; oc, 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, Lozère, Mende. It flows generally north. It joins the Loire west of the city of Nevers. It is long, and has a drainage basin of .

Departments and towns

The Allier flows through the following departments, and along the following towns: * Allier: Moulins, Allier, Moulins, Varennes-sur-Allier, Vichy, Saint-Yorre * Ardèche - the river runs along the border between this department and Lozère * Cher (department), Cher: Mornay-sur-Allier, Château-sur-Allier * Haute-Loire: Brioude, Langeac, Monistrol-d'Allier * Lozère: Langogne, La Bastide-Puylaurent * Nièvre * Puy-de-Dôme: Brassac-les-Mines, Auzat-sur-Allier, Issoire, Cournon-d'Auvergne, Pont-du-Château, Cournon-d'Auvergne

Tributaries

The main tributaries of the Allier are: * Chapeauroux (left side) * Senouire (right side) * Alagnon (left side) * Anse (river), Anse * Couze Pavin (left side) * Dore (river), Dore (right side) ** Dolore (left side) * (left side) * Sioule (left side) * Monne (left side) ** Veyre (left side)

Ecology

The Allier is one of the rare places in southern Europe where the freshwater Thymallus thymallus, 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

Image:Allier Pont Canal LeGuétin.jpg, The bridge Le Guétin.

References

Rivers of France Allier basin, Rivers of Allier Rivers of Ardèche Rivers of Cher (department) Rivers of Haute-Loire Rivers of Lozère Rivers of Nièvre Rivers of Puy-de-Dôme Rivers of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Rivers of Centre-Val de Loire Rivers of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Rivers of Occitania (administrative region) {{France-river-stub