VIENNE, a department of France, bounded N. by Indre-et-Loire, K by the departments of Indre and linute-Vienne, S. by Charente, W. by DeuxeSevres and Maine-et-Loire. Its greatest length from north to south is about 80 miles; the greatest breadth is 51 miles. The area of the department is 2692 square miles. The population in 1851 was 317,305.
The department has no mountaius. A chain of hills called the heights of (patine, which extends from the central mountains of Auvergue towards the mouth of the Loire, crosses the south-western side of the department; and a branch from these hills extends towards the north east, between the Clain and the Thou& The central part, between the Clain and the Vienne, consists of tolerably high ground ; but the part east of the Vienne is low. The north-eastern border of the department is occupied by cretaceous formations; the rest of the department is occupied by the secondary rocks. The department has several ireteworks, quarries for millstones, whetstones, lithographic stone, limestone, and freestone, and a qunrry of marble which takes a good polish. There are sulphureous springs at La-Itoehe-Posay, near the junction of the Creuse and the Clartempe.
The department belongs almost entirely to the basin of the Loire ; a very small part in the south-west corner, about Civray, belongs to the basin of the Charente. The Vienne, which is ono of the principal affluents of the Loire, rises in the department of Correze, nud after traversing Haute-Vienne and a part of Charente enters thie department on the south, just above Availles, and flows northward through the department, which it quits below the junction of the Creuse. About 65 miles of the course of the Vienne are in this department : from the junction of the Clain to its mouth in the Loire, a distance of about 40 rodeo, it Iti navigable. Nearly all the other rivers of the department are tributaries of the Vienna : the Ctrande-Blourde, the Ozon, and the Crewe join it on the right bank ; and the Dive and the Clain ou the left bank : the Vesicle, which jolter it ou the left bank long after it quits this department, and the linble, a feeder of the Veude, have their source amid the hills on the north of the department. The
Crouse has the last 20 miles of its course on the border of this depart ment; ite feeder, the Gartempo, rises in the department of Creuse, but Lea the lower pert of its course, for nearly 40 miles, within or upon the border of this department. The Anglin, a feeder of the Gartempe, and the Sarleron and Benaise, feeders of the Anglin, belong partly to this department. The Clain rises in the department of Charente, but has nearly the whole of its course of more than 60 miles in this department. None of the Rfflueuts of the Vienne are navigable except the CREUSE. The Dire, a tributary of the Thou6 (an affluent of the Loire), is navigable for 8 miles. It rises in this department, and has the greater part of Its course within or upon the western border. The Charente just crosses the south-western corner of the department.
The department is traversed by 6 imperial, 9 departmental, and a great number of communal or parish roads : the most important is the high road from Paris to Bordeaux. The Paris-Bordeaux railway also traverses the department in its whole length, passing through Chatellerault, Poitiers, and Civray.
The air Is generally mild. The north wind prevails in winter, the north-west wind in spring, and the south wind in summer. The marshes in the west of the department are unhealthy.
The area of the department may be stated in round numbers at 1,680,000 acres, of which snore than 1,000,000 acres are under the plough. The most productive soils are on the northern part of the department ; those on the south and south-east are generally poor. The principal productions are wheat, rye, oats, hemp, flax, peas, and potatoes. The meadows occupy above 100,000 acres, and the heaths or open pastures nearly 190,000 acres. A great number of homes, mules, horned cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs are bred : poultry is abundant. The vineyards occupy 70,000 acres, and yield ordinary white and red wines. The orchards occupy 14,000 acres, the woods 200,000 acres. A considerable quantity of walnuts, chestnuts, and fruit are grown.