PYRENEES, HAuTEs, a department of France. lying e. of the Basses-Pyrenees, is a part of the old province of Gascony. The Hautes-Pyrenees, which, as its name implies, contains the loftiest summits of the Pyrenean chain, is divided into the three arrondisse ments of Tarbes, Argeles, and Bagneres, and the chief town is Tarbes. The aspect of the scenery is, moreover, very varied—savage mountains and precipitous rocks in the s.. an agreeable diversification of hill with dale in the center, softening down to fertile plains in the north. The principal rivers, none of which, however, are navigable in the department, are the Adour, and the gave de Pau. The climate is generally mild in the plains and sheltered valleys, but even there, storms are of frequent occurrence. The well-cultivated and artificially watered low-lands yield good crops of cereals, legmninous plants, flax, fruits of every kind, including the grape, from which excellent wine and brandy are made. Horses, mules, cattle, sheep, swine, and poultry are much reared. This department, which is the richest part of the Pyrenees in mineral products, espe cially marble of various kinds, copper, iron, zinc, lead, antimony, slate, granite, etc., contains also the most celebrated springs, as the sulphur springs at St. Sauveur, and the het baths of Bagueres, Bareges, and Cauterets. The very limited commercial industry of Hautes-Pyrenees embraces the manufacture of woolen and mixed fabrics, including bareges, coloring matters, leather, paper, cutlery, etc. There is also a smuggling trade
with Spain. Area, 1742 sq.m.; pop. '76, 238,037.
a maritime department of France, is bounded on the c. by the Mediterranean, and on the s. by the Pyrenees. Area, 1590 sq.m. ' • pop. '76, 197,940. It is divided into the three arrondissements of Perpignan, Prades, and Caret. The chief town is Perpignan. Like the two previously described, this department presents a series of parallel valleys formed by spurs from the Pyrenees, but in this case the valleys run e. and west. They arc three in number, and are watered by the Gly, Tet (the principal river), and Techs. The s.w. corner is drained by the Segre (Segura), a tributary of the Ebro. An extended plain occupies all the a. and e. of the depart ment. The climate is good, and in the plains is seldom disturbed by great extremes of heat or cold. The vegetable products include fine grain and some of the choicest fruits of this latitude. Wines constitute the wealth of the district, and include the red wines of Roussillon, the white muscatel of Rivesaltes, and other approved kinds. The chief exports are wine, cocoons, the surplus live stock and its products, sardines, ancho vies, etc. The mineral wealth of the district is not remarkable. 4