RHONE, a department of France, the smallest except the metro politan department of Seine, is bounded N. by &One-et-Loire, E. by the department of Ain, S.E. by that of Ieere, and S. and W. by that of Loire. Its greatest length from north to south is about 00 miles ; its greatest breadth is 28 miles. Its area is 1077'4 square miles. The population in 1841 was 500,831; In 1851 it amounted to 574,745, giving 533'455 inhabitant, to a square mile, or above tho average per square mile for the whole of France. In density of population the department of Rhone ranks second among the depart ments of France, being surpassed only by the metropolitan department of Seine.
The western side of the department is mountainous; the Lyonnis, Beaujolais, and Charolais heights, which form the prolongation north ward of the C45vennes, extend through it on this side from south to north. From a point in the north of the department near the town of Beaujeu these heights send off two offsets, one (the Maconnais heights) to the north-north-east, which are separated from the priu olpal range by the valley of the GrOne, a feeder of the SnOne ; and another to the south-south-east, which are separated from the priueipal range by the valley of the Azergue, another feeder of the Saone. In the south of the department another offset branches off from the main range, from which it Ls separated by the valley of tho Brevanne, and extends north-east to the banks of the Saone, north of Lyon ; its extremity is known as Mont-d'Or, a name which is sometimes given to the whole branch. Tho extremity of another branch, running to the north-east and separated from the main range by the valley of the Gier, just extends into the south of the department. Some of the peaks are of considerable height ; the mountain of Tarare is, on the north side, about 2600 feet., in the centre nearly 3000 feet, and on the south nearly 4500 feet high. The Maconnairs heights have in some places an elevation of above 3000 feet. The principal pass over these mountains is that of Term, where the road from Paris by Moulins to Lyon crosses the ridge. Southward of this are the passes through which run the roads from Lyon to Fours and to St-Etienne; north ward of it the only peas in the department is that through which runs the rend from Beaujeu to Charlieu. The road from Lyon along
the western bank of the RhOne runs in several places through a narrow pass between the lower elopes of the mountains and the river.
The principal mass of the mountains is composed of granitic or other primary rocks. In the valley of the Gier are found the lower secondary formations, while the valley of the RhOne is occupied in the north by secondary and in the south by tertiary formations. Tho mineral wealth of the department comprises copper-ores and coal. The copper-mines are at St.-Bel near Arbroslo on the Brevanne, end at Cheesy on the Azergne. Coal-mines are worked. Rock-crystal, por phyry, granite, fine marble of various colours, sandstone, gypsum, potters. and fullers'-earth, manganese, and excellent freestone, are found. Some particles of gold are brought down by the Rhone.
There are chalyboate waters at Charbounares near Lyon, and at Neuville-eur-SeIme.
The department le included In the basis of the Rbente, only a small part of the western aide being in that of the Loire. The Satin, touches the eastern boundary of the department about ten miles below Micon; this river and the Ithtme form the eastern boundary to Condrieu, ad *gat to the southern extremity of the department, except just in the neighbourhood of Lyon, when the department extends acmes so a. to oomprelmmel a portiere of the eastern bank of both river& The aflosens of the Same are—the Ornate of which only the source sod the upper part of the course are in this department ; the Ardiere ; and the Anne.. The Asergue receives the weed streams of the Brevenne, or Brevanne, and its feeder the Tardine. The feeder* of the Rhone are the heron, the Garen, and the Gier, of which last only the lower pert belongs to the department Of the feedera of the Loire, the Sornim the Truabouse the Loins, and the Coire have their sources Is this department Of them rivers only the SaOne and the Rhona are navigable.