| Durolle | |
|---|---|
 The Durolle near the May factory in Thiers | |
   | |
| Location | |
| Country | France |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Massif Central |
| Mouth | Dore |
• coordinates | 45°50′26″N 3°29′57″E / 45.84042°N 3.49909°E |
| Length | 32.1 km (19.9 mi) |
| Basin size | 172 km2 (66 sq mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Dore→ Allier→ Loire→ Atlantic Ocean |
The Durolle (formerly Dorole) is a 32-kilometer-long French river in the departments of Loire and Puy-de-Dôme, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. A right-bank tributary of the Dore, which it joins downstream of Thiers, it is a sub-tributary of the Loire via the Allier.[1]
The river rises in the Forez mountains, where rainfall is high throughout the year. After flowing past the town of Noirétable, the Durolle plunges into deep canyons (until it exits the Vallée des Rouets and the Vallée des Usines) renowned for their rich natural and industrial heritage. Known since the Middle Ages for its paper mills, the river owes its fame to its motive power, which enabled cutlery factories to sharpen knives. Today the river's industrial past is used as a tourist attraction.