ALPES MARITIMES, a dep. of France, in the extreme s.e., on the shores of the Medi terranean and confines of Italy, formed in 1860, of the ancient co. of Nice, then ceded to France, and formerly belonging to the kingdom of Sardinia, and of the arrondissement of Grasse, detached from the department of Var. The chain of the A. M. forms the northern boundary of the department, and from it numerous spurs run seaward, among which are lovely and fertile valleys. The chief rivers of the department are the Loup, the Var, and the Paillon, at the mouth of which Nice is situated. The climate is mild and pleasant in the vicinity of the sea, and in the lower valleys, although the higher mountains reach to altitudes where winter always reigns. The vine and olive are much cultivated in the more favored localities ; oranges, lemons, and figs are produced in abundance and of excellent quality ; a considerable extent of land is devoted to tobacco, and not a little to the cultivation of herbs and flowers for the preparation of essences and perfumes. Grass...: is particularly famous for the manufacture of perfum ery. In many parts of the department, there are noble forests. In the more elevated parts, much land is used for the pasture of sheep, and also of goats, of which these regions possess a highly esteemed breed. The silk-worm is reared to a considerable extent, and thekeeping of bees is a source of no little wealth, honey being largely pro duced and exported. The mineral riches are not great. There are some quarries of
white marble. and some mineral springs. Among the chief branches of industry, besides those which are strictly rural, are brass-founding and the making of bijouterie. The tunny. anchovy, and sardine fisheries give employment to many people on the shores of the Mediterranean, and great quantities of anchovies and sardines are exported from the port of Cannes. The department is divided into three arrondissements—Nice, Puget Theniers, and Grasse. The capital is Nice (q.v.), and the other principal towns are Antibes (q.v.), Villefranclie, Cannes (q.v.), Grasse (q.v.), and Menton, or Meutone (q.v.), on the eastern frontier.—The co. of Nice was bestowed in 1388 on Amadeus VII., duke of Savoy, and latterly formed part of the kingdom of Sardinia till 1860, except that it was seized by France in 1792 and for a time formed into the department of Alpes Maritimes.It was restored to Sardinia in 1815. After the treaty of 1860 was concluded, it was apprehended that the people of this region, on account of their race, customs, and lan guage, would not show the same willingness to be transferred to France as the people of Savoy ; but no transference of territory was ever more easily accomplished, or with less apparent dissatisfaction of those most nearly concerned. The pop. of the dep. in 1876 was 203,604.