Allier Alèir (Occitan) | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | France |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
- location | Massif Central |
- elevation | 1,503 m (4,931 ft) |
Mouth | |
- location | Loire |
- coordinates | 46°57′34″N 3°4′44″E / 46.95944°N 3.07889°E |
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 |
The Allier (Occitan: Alèir) is a river in central France, left tributary of the Loire River. It flows through several regions.
The Allier department is named after this river. In Ancient Rome, the river was named Elaver.
The Allier river has a length of 420.7 km (261.4 mi) and a drainage basin with an area of 14,310 km2 (5,525 sq mi).[1]
Its average yearly discharge (volume of water which passes through a section of the river per unit of time) is 143.0 m3/s (5,050 cu ft/s) at Cuffy in the Cher department.[2]
Average monthly discharge (m3/s) at Cuffy (1955 - 2017)[2] |
The source of the Allier is in the mountainous region of Margeride, part of the Massif Central, on the mountain Moure de la Gardille in the Chasseradès municipality, Lozère department. The source is at an altitude of about 1,430 m (4,692 ft).[3]
The Allier flows, in general, to the north and passes through the following regions, departments and communes:[1]
Finally, it flows, as a left tributary into the Loire river at the bec d'Allier ("beak of the Allier"),[N 1] near the city of Nevers, in the limits between the Cher and Nièvre departments in the towns of Marzy, Cuffy and Gimouille, at 167 m (548 ft) of altitude.[4]
The main tributaries, with a length greater than 40 km (25 mi), of the Allier are: