Allier River
Encyclopedia
The Allier 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
.
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 shoal
s 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.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and is the left tributary to the Loire River. Its source is in the Massif Central
Massif Central
The Massif Central is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaux....
, in the Lozère
Lozère
Lozère , is a department in southeast France near the Massif Central, named after Mont Lozère.- History :Lozère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
département, east of Mende
Mende, Lozère
Mende is a commune of France in the Lozère department of which it is the capital.It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mende.-Sights:* Mende Cathedral -External links:* * ,...
. It flows generally north. It joins the Loire River west of the city of Nevers
Nevers
Nevers is a commune in – and the administrative capital of – the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne region in central France...
.
Départements and towns along the river
- AllierAllierAllier is a department in central France named after the river Allier.- History :Allier is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Auvergne and Bourbonnais.In 1940, the government of Marshal...
: MoulinsMoulins, AllierMoulins is a commune in central France, capital of the Allier department.Among its many tourist attractions are the Maison Mantin the Anne de Beaujeu Museum.-History:...
, Varennes-sur-AllierVarennes-sur-AllierVarennes-sur-Allier is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:-References:*...
, VichyVichyVichy is a commune in the department of Allier in Auvergne in central France. It belongs to the historic province of Bourbonnais.It is known as a spa and resort town and was the de facto capital of Vichy France during the World War II Nazi German occupation from 1940 to 1944.The town's inhabitants... - ArdècheArdècheArdèche is a department in south-central France named after the Ardèche River.- History :The area has been inhabited by humans at least since the Upper Paleolithic, as attested by the famous cave paintings at Chauvet Pont d'Arc. The plateau of the Ardeche River has extensive standing stones ,...
- the river is a border between this département and LozèreLozèreLozère , is a department in southeast France near the Massif Central, named after Mont Lozère.- History :Lozère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790... - CherCher (département)Cher is an administrative department located in the centre of France. It is named after the Cher River.-History:Cher is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. Most of it was created, along with the adjacent department of Indre from the former...
- Haute-LoireHaute-LoireHaute-Loire is a department in south-central France named after the Loire River.-History:Haute-Loire is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
: BrioudeBrioudeBrioude is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne region in south-central France. It lies on the banks of the River Allier, a tributary of the Loire.-History:...
, LangeacLangeacLangeac is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.It is located around 30 km west of Le Puy-en-Velay, and around 100 km south-west of Lyon.-See also:* Communes of the Haute-Loire department... - LozèreLozèreLozère , is a department in southeast France near the Massif Central, named after Mont Lozère.- History :Lozère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
: LangogneLangogneLangogne is a commune in the Lozère department in southern France.-External links:* *... - NièvreNièvreNièvre is a department in the centre of France named after the Nièvre River.-History:Nièvre is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
- Puy-de-DômePuy-de-DômePuy-de-Dôme is a department in the centre of France named after the famous dormant volcano, the Puy-de-Dôme.Inhabitants were called Puydedomois until December 2005...
: Brassac-les-MinesBrassac-les-MinesBrassac-les-Mines is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-References:*...
, Auzat-sur-Allier, IssoireIssoireIssoire is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-Geography:Issoire is located on the Couze River, near its junction with the Allier, SSE of Clermont-Ferrand on the Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée railway to Nîmes...
, Cournon-d'AuvergneCournon-d'AuvergneCournon-d'Auvergne is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-References:*...
Tributaries include
- ChapeaurouxChapeaurouxThe Chapeauroux is a long river in the Lozère and Haute-Loire départements, south-central France. Its source is near Estables, in the Margeride. It flows generally northeast...
(left side) - SenouireSenouireThe Senouire is a long river in the Haute-Loire département, south-central France. Its source is at Sembadel. It flows generally west. It is a right tributary of the Allier into which it flows between Fontannes and Vieille-Brioude, near Brioude....
(right side) - AlagnonAlagnonThe Alagnon , also spelled Allagnon, is a long river in central France, left tributary of the river Allier. Its source is near the village Laveissière, near the Plomb du Cantal, in the Massif Central...
(left side) - Anse
- Couze Pavin (left side)
- DoreDore (France)The Dore is a 141 km long river in central France , right tributary of the river Allier. Its source is near the town Saint-Germain-l'Herm, in the Massif Central. The Dore flows generally north through the following towns: Arlanc, Ambert, Courpière, Puy-Guillaume...
(right side) - Morge (left side)
- SiouleSiouleThe Sioule is a long river in central France, left tributary of the river Allier. Its source is near the village Orcival, north of Mont-Dore, in the Massif Central. The Sioule has cut a deep gorge, especially in its upper course...
(left side) - Veyre (left side)
Ecology
Grayling (species)
The grayling is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It is the type species of its genus. Native to the Palearctic ecozone, the grayling is widespread throughout northern Europe, from the United Kingdom and France to the Ural Mountains in Russia...
(Thymallus thymallus), known in French as ombre des rivières, occurs in a natural habitat.
Grayling like to live in shoal
Shoal
Shoal, shoals or shoaling may mean:* Shoal, a sandbank or reef creating shallow water, especially where it forms a hazard to shipping* Shoal draught , of a boat with shallow draught which can pass over some shoals: see Draft...
s and are sensitive to pollution. In the Allier River these fish are more abundant in the stretch of the river between Langogne
Langogne
Langogne is a commune in the Lozère department in southern France.-External links:* *...
and Brioude
Brioude
Brioude is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne region in south-central France. It lies on the banks of the River Allier, a tributary of the Loire.-History:...
. They are economically important, being appreciated for food and fished for sport.