PYRENEES-ORIENTALES, a department of south-west ern France, bordering on the Mediterranean and the Spanish frontier, formed in 1790 of the old province of Roussillon and of small portions of Languedoc. The population, which includes many Spaniards, numbered (1931) 238,647. Area, 1,598 sq.m. The department is bounded north by Ariege and Aude, east by the Mediterranean, south by Catalonia and west by the republic of Andorra. Its borders are marked by mountain peaks, on the north by the Corbieres, on the north-west and south-west by the east ern Pyrenees, on the extreme south-east by the Alberes, which end in the sea at Cape Cerbera. The coast is low-lying, with large lagoons. In the lowlands the climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters, dry summers and short and sudden rain-storms. Amelie les-Bains is much frequented on account of its mild climate and sheltered position. The temperature ranges from 85° to 95° F in summer, and in winter only occasionally falls as low as 26° or 27°. The mean rainfall is 27 in, on the coast, but increases towards the hills. The most common wind is the tramontane from N.N.W., as violent as the mistral of Provence and extremely parching. The marinada blows from the S.S.E.
On the Canigou massif to a height of 1,400 ft. are found the orange, the aloe, the oleander, the pomegranate and the olive; the vine grows to a height of 1,800 ft. ; next come the chestnut (2,625 ft.), the rhododendron (from 4,330 to 8,330 ft.), pine (6,40o), and birch (6,560) while stunted junipers grow to the summit. The cultivated land in Pyrenees-Orientales is devoted to wine-growing, market-gardening and fruit culture, the production of cereals being comparatively unimportant. The main source of wealth to the department is its wine, of which some kinds are strongly alcoholic and others are in request as liqueur wines (Rivesaltes, Banyuls). Early vegetables are grown in the irri gated lowlands, and fruit-growing is chiefly carried on in the river valleys. In iron Pyrenees-Orientales is one of the richest de
partments in France, the greater part of the ore being trans ported to the interior. Lignite and various kinds of stone are worked. The mineral waters are popular. Amelie-les-Bains has hot springs, chalybeate or sulphurous. In the arrondissement of Ceret there are also the establishments of La-Preste-les-Bains, near Prats de Mollo, with hot sulphurous springs, and of Le Boulou, the Vichy of the Pyrenees. Near Prades are the hot sulphurous springs of Molitg, and a little north of Mont Canigou are the hot springs of Vernet, containing sodium and sulphur. In the valley of the Tet the sulphurous and alkaline springs of Thues reach a temperature of 172° F. The baths of Les Escaldas, near Mont louis, are hot, sulphurous and alkaline.
The chief route (Southern Railway) across the Pyrenees is from Perpignan through Montlouis, a fortified place, to Puigcerda, in the Spanish province of Gerona, through the pass of La Perche, skirting in the French department an enclave of Spanish territory. Three other roads run from Perpignan to Figueras through the passes of Perthus (defended by the fort of Bellegarde), Banyuls and Balistres, the last-named being traversed by a railway. The chief towns of the three arrondissements are Perpignan, Ceret and Prades : there are 17 cantons and 233 communes. The department constitutes the diocese of Perpignan under the archbishop of Albi, and is attached to the appeal court and the academie (educational division) of Montpellier and to the region of the XVI. army corps.
Perpignan, the capital town and a fortress of the first class, Amelie-les-Bains and Elne (qq.v.) are the chief towns. Rivesaltes (4,924) is the most populous town after Perpignan (58,440).