LOIRE, HAUTE, a department of central France, formed out of the for mer province of Languedoc, the duchy of Auvergne, and the district of Forez, and bounded on the S. by Lozere and Ardeche. The Loire crosses it going N., the Allier going N. W.; area, 1,930 square miles; pop. about 303,000. The surface fonns a plateau, deeply trenched by river courses; it ranges in elevation from 2,000 to 3,000 feet and rises in peaks and domes up to 5,755 feet above sea-level (Mount Meznec). In spite of the ungen erous nature of the soil, agriculture is the chief calling of the inhabitants. But about 120,000 persons find employment at home in making lace from wool, cot ton, flax, silk, gold, and silver. Some thousands of the inhabitants leave their houses for a time every year, to work in other parts of France. Coal and build ing-stone are worked. Capital, Le Puy.
(ang-fa-ryur'), a maritime department of the W. of France, formed out of the S. portion of the old province of Brittany, and com prising the arrondissements of Nantes, Ancenis, Paimbceuf, Chateaubriant, and
St. Nazaire, with Nantes for its capital; area, 2,693 square miles; pop. 620,000. It has a coastline of 78 miles. The Loire flowing W. intersects it and forms a wide estuary; the Vilaine skirts its N. W. cboundary. In the S. of the department lies the lake of Grand-Lieu, 26 square miles in extent. The interior is on the whole flat, and the soil fertile, producing cereals, potatoes, beet roots, hemp, and fodder. Bees are kept. There are fine oak and pine forests. Salt marshes are numerous along the shore. The vine yards yield annually about 30,000,000 gallons of wine, and the orchards some 4,500,000 gallons of cider. Granite, slate, and limestone are quarried. The industrial establishments include iron works, sugar refineries, glass works, fac tories for tinning fruits and sardines, etc. St. Nazaire has grown into an im portant seaport, having taken the place formerly occupied by Nantes. Ship building is carried on at Nantes. The coast fisheries and general export trade are extensive.