| Allier | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Massif Central |
| Mouth | Loire |
| 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, 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.
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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.