VOSGES, a mountain range stretching along the west side of the Rhine valley, from Basel to Mainz, a distance of 15o m. They are similar to and closely associated with the Black Forest. The ranges are similar in geological formation and are portions of the same structural unit, for the Rhine valley which separates them lies in a rift valley of Tertiary age. In addition both have fine forests on their lower slopes, above which are open pasturages and rounded summits of a uniform altitude; both have a steep fall to the Rhine and a gradual descent on the other side. The Vosges in their southern portion are mainly of granite, with some porphyritic rocks, and a red sandstone (occasionally 1,640 ft. thick) which on the western versant is named "gres Vosgien." Orographically the range is divided into four sections : the Grandes Vosges (62 m.), extending from Belfort to the Col de Saales; the Central Vosges (31 m.), between the latter and the Col de Saverne ; the Lower Vosges (3o m.) from thence to the source of the Lauter; and the Hardt Mts. (q.v.). The rounded summits of the Grandes Vosges are called "ballons." The depart ments of Vosges, Haute SaOne, and Haut-Rhin and Belfort ter ritory meet at the Ballon d'Alsace (4,100 ft.). Thence northwards the average height of the range is 3,00o ft., the highest point, the Ballon de Guebwiller (Gebweiler), or Sultz, rising east of the main chain to 4,668 ft. The Col de Saales is nearly 1,900 ft. high.
The central section is both lower and narrower than the Grandes Vosges, Mont Donon (3,307 ft.) being the highest summit. The Rhine and Marne Canal and the Paris-Strasbourg railway trav erse the Col de Saverne. There are motor roads over the passes of Bussang (Remiremont to Thann), the Schlucht (3,625 ft.) (Gerardmer to Munster), the Bonhomme (St. Die to Colmar) and the pass from St. Die to Ste. Marie-aux-Mines. The Lower Vosges are a sandstone plateau ranging from 1,000 to 1,850 ft. high, and are crossed by the railway from Hagenau to Sarregue mines, defended by the fort of Bitche.
The annual rainfall is much higher and the mean temperature much lower in the western than in the eastern versants whilst on the latter the vine ripens to a height of 5,300 ft.; but its only rivers here are the Ill and other shorter streams. The Moselle, Meurthe and Sarr all rise on the Lorraine side. Moraines, boulders and polished rocks testify to the existence of glaciers which for merly covered the Vosges. The lakes, surrounded by pines, beeches and maples, the green meadows which provide pasture for large herds of cows, and the fine views of the Rhine valley, Black Forest and snow-covered Swiss mountains combine to make the district picturesque.