VENDCIE, a department in the west. of France, is bounded N. by Loire-Iuffiribure, N.E. by Maineset-Lolre, E. and S.E. by Deux-Sevres, S. by Charente-Infdribure, and S.W. and W. by the Atlantio Ocean. Its greatest length from north-west to south-east ia 82 miles; its greatest breadth, at right angles to the length, is 56 miles. This department comprehends also the islands of Boinallolrmoutier, and Dieu. The whole is comprehended between 46'18' and 47' 4' N. lat., 0' 35' and 2' 30' W. long. The area of the department is 2596 square miles. The population in 1851 was 383,731.
The coast of this department is generally low. The north-western coast firms, with the islands of Bob and Noirmoutier, the Bay of BourgneuG The south-western coast forms, with the Isle of 1145, the gulf l'ertuis-Breton. The shore is low, and lined with marshes, which rest on the north-west on a bed of sand, and on the south-west on a very thick stratum of stiff clay. Industry has rendered these marshes remarkable for fertility; they are intersected in every direction by ditches for the purpose of drainage. The island of Boin is insulated only by a small river, Le Dab, which is not navigable. It is united to the mainland by a causeway across the Dain. The island appears to be formed by alluvial deposits on a limestone rock; and is about 7 miles long and 4 miles wide. Aroirtnoutier protects the Bay of Bourgneuf to seaward : it is about 12 miles long from north-north-west to south south-east, and in one part nearly 5 miles broad. It is separated from the mainland at its south-eastern extremity by a narrow channel about half a mile across. The coast of the island is lined in some parts by sand-hills or low flat rocks, iu others by sands and shoals extending far out to sea; on the east side, in the Bay of Bourgneuf, is a small road or anchorage. The soil of the island is very fertile ; sea-weed is used for manure; some of the most productive parts are considerably below the level of the sea, from which they are protected by embank ments. The produce of the island includes grain, pulse, fruit, salt (made in the salt-marshes), and good cheese. The oyster fishery is actively carried on ; and the inhabitants, who amount to about 7000, are excellent seamen. The I le d' Yea lies farther out from the main land, from the nearest part of which it is distant more than 10 miles : its chief town, St.-A Orin, which is in a central position, is iu 42' N. lat., and about 22' W. long. The length of the island is about 6 miles ; its breadth about 3 miles. Its western coast, towards the open sea, is high and inaccessible ; the eastern coast is low and flat, affording ready and safe access to small boats. The whole island is little else than a vast granitic rock, covered with a vegetable soil three feet in thickness in the lower part, but in the higher ground so thin as to leave the rock almost bare.
The department is crossed on the north-eastern side by the heights, which extend from the mountain-district of central France north westward to the mouth of the Loire. These heights cross just within the border of the department, here formed by the little river Sevre Nantaise, the valley of which they overlook. The hills are none of them lofty, having their greatest elevatiou under 500 feet; but they overspread a considerable tract. These higher grounds consist for the most part of granitic or other primitive or lower secondary rocks : the flat country, which extends southward and westward towards the coast, is occupied chiefly by the limestones, and other formations intervening between the cretaceous and new red-sandstone groups. The department has three coal-mines, some iron-works, and a number of mineral springs. The manufacture of malt is actively carried on in the marshes which line the coast.
The greater part of the department is drained by several small rivers, which flow into the Atlantic; but the northern and north eastern parts belong to the basin of the Loire, and are drained by its two tributaries, the SSvre-Nantaise, with its affluent the Maine (formed by the juncture of the Grande Maine and Petite Maine) and the Boulogne, which flows into the Lake of Grand Lieu, and then, under the name of Acheneau, reaches the Loire. The rivers which flow directly into the Atlantic are the Sevre-Niortaise, which, with its feeders the Autizo and the Vend6e, drains the south-eastern part; the Lay, formed by the junction of Le-Grand Lay and Le-Petit Lay, which, with its affluents, drains the central and south-western parts ; and the Gui-Chatonay, the Au.sance, the Jaunay, the Vio, and several canals, drain the western and north-western sides of the department. The SSvre-Niortaise is navigable in all the part which is in this department or on the boundary ; the Autize is navigable for about 6 miles above its junction with the SSvre-Niortaise, and the Vend& (which gives name to the department) from Fontenay about 16 miles above its junction with the same river; the Lay has by labour been made navigable for about 20 miles above its outfall ; and the Vic is navigable for about 5 miles. The only navigable canal is that of Lupo, which has a course due south, 9 miles from the town of Linen, into the road of Aiguillon, south of which is a remarkable spit of land projecting about 3 miles into the sea. The department is crossed by 5 imperial, 16 departmental, and 11 military roads.