VAN NES. (Mortemart.] VAR, a department in the sonth-east of France, is bounded N. by Bassee-Alpes, E. by Piedmont (from which it is partly separated by the river Var), S. by the Mediterranean, and W. by the department of Boucles-du-Rhone. Its greatest length is 83 miles; the extreme breadth is 49 miles. The department, including its islands, lies between 42' 57' and 43' 55' N. lat., 5° 41' and 7° 15' E. long. The area of the department is 2790 square miles. Tho population in 1851 was 357,987, giving 128'3 inhabitanta to a square mile, or 46'28 below the overage per square mile for the whole of France.
The coast is rocky, and is skirted by numerous islands. From the month of the Var, at the eastern extremity of the department, to Cape dela-Garoupe, the coast forms an open bay, on the shore of which is the town of Antibes. Westward of Cape-dc-la-Garoupe are the some what deeper bays of Juan and Naponle, separated from each other by a small Intervening headland, and protected seaward by the Lerins Islands, comprehending the islands of Sainte-Marguerite (which lies opposite Cannes) and SL-Houorat, with some smaller ones. These islands are defended by a fort, and further protected by the surround ing rocks: they abound with rabbits and partridges. Some other small gulfs, es the port of Agay, the gulf of Frejus, the gulf of Grimaud, and the roadstead of Hybrea, lie to the west of the gulf of Napoule. The roadstead of Ifyres is bounded on the west of the peninsula of Glens, which is connected with the mainland by a low sandy isthmus. [11sEata.) The coast is for the most part high, but some of the bays present a low sandy shore. There are several small seaports, but none of any importance except Toulon.
The department is mountainous. A branch of the Alps extends from east to west through the department, and separates the valley of the Argens and the tracts watered by the Siagne, Loup, and Var, all of which flow into the Mediterranean from the valley of the Durance, which belongs to the river-basin of the 'theme. Another range of mountains parallel to the above, and known as 'Lee Monte des Maures,' extends along the coast between Ily4es and Frejus, separating the coast from the valley of the Argens, which river after draining the valley in its eastern course turns to the south-east and flows past the eastern extremity of 'Les Monte des Maures' into the Mediterranean near Frejus. A group of mountains forming the continuation of ' Les
Monts des Idaures,' extending north-eastward from Frejus, is known as )loot-Fsterel, and is distinguished by its picturesque character. The hill of Faron, immediately above Toulon, rises to the height of nearly 1400 feet ; end Mont Caourae, near the same town, is 2608 feet above the level of the sea. The summit of the mountain La Sainte-Baume, which Is near the boundary of Bouches-du-Rhone, is 3285 feet ; and the mountain of Sainte-Vietoire, a little farther north, is 3125 fist. The coast eastward from Toulon la occupied by the primary and lower secondary formations, and presents in many parts a rugged and sterile soil ; in the more inland parts these formations are covered by the limestones and other secondary rocks which intervene between the cretaceous and the carboniferous groups.
Among the minerals of the department are coal, lignite, marble, alabseter, porphyry, granite, serpentine, jasper, and gypsum. There are salt-works on the coast, especially at Ilybres.
The rieeri are small, and none of them are navigable. The 'For, from the department is named, rises in the department of Baesee-Alpes, a few miles east of Colmar.; after running a few leagues it enters the Sardinian states, and lower down separates the Italian province of Nice from the French department of Var. In its upper course it forms some cascades. Timber is floated down the stream. The course of the river is generally south ; 4n ita lower part are many small islands. The whole length of the river is about 70 miles. In spring the Var is subject to groat floods; It frequently changes its bed, and is useless to navigation. The chief feeder of the Var, on the French aide, is the Esteron. The Gapon, or Gapeau, iu the western part of the department, the Argens in the centre, and the Siagne and Loup in the eastern part, flow into the Mediterranean, and, with their several tributaries, belong wholly to this department. The Verdon flows into the Durance, and forms in one part the northern boundary.