Allier (river) Information & Allier (river) Links at HealthHaven.com

Loire-Allier
Allier
Origin	Massif Central
Mouth	Loire; 46°57′34″N 3°4′44″E / 46.95944°N 3.07889°ECoordinates: 46°57′34″N 3°4′44″E / 46.95944°N 3.07889°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, left tributary to the river Loire. Its source is in the Massif Central, in the Lozère département, east of Mende. It flows generally north. It joins the river Loire west of the city Nevers.

[edit] 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

[edit] 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)

[edit] 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.^[1]

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.