VOSGES, a department in the eastern part of France, is bounded N. by the department of Meurthe, N.F. by that of Bas-Ithio, E. and S.E. by that of Haut-lthin, S. by Haute-Saone, W. by Haute-Marne, and N.W. by the department of Meuse. Its form is that of an irregular quadrangle, of which the northern side measures 85 miles, the southern 45 miles, the eastern 53 miles, and the western 41 miles. The department is comprehended between 47° 4S' and 48° 33' N. lat, 5° 27' and 7° 20' E. long. Its area is 2347 square miles. The popu lation in 1851 was 427,409.
The surface is mountainous in the east., in the other parts (which constitute what is called the Plain) hilly. The Vosges Mountains, from which the department takes its name, extend along the eastern boundary ; and the Faucilles traverse the department from west to east, and unite with the branches of the Vosges about Plembieres, in the south-eastern part of the department. The Vosges Mountains present a great variety of picturesque and delightful scenery. The Ballon.d'Alsace, one of their highest summits, at the point where the branch which joins the Faucilles diverges from the main chain, is 4124 feet high; Le-Breasoir, a neighbouring summit, is 4049 feet ; and Le-Grand-Donnon, farther north, is 3314 feet.
The Vosges, and that part of the Faucilles which is nearest to the Vosges, are composed chiefly of granitic rocks. Upon the granite rests the red and the variegated sandstone; upon these eandstoues lie fossilliferous limestone and variegated marl ; and above these has and the lower oolitic rocks. [VOSGES MOUNTAINS.] These formations cover the whole of the department ; the upper formation, the oolitic, occupying the western side, and the others successively cropping out as we advance eastward. The mineral treasures of the department are considerable. Granite, porphyry, freestone of a black colour, millstones, slates, coal, gypsum, and agates are found. Iron-stone is procured. There is a great number of iron-works for the mauufacture of pig-iron, wrought-iron, and steel. Copper, silver, and manganese,
are also found among the minerals, but no mines are now worked.
The department belongs chiefly to the basin of the Rhine. A small portion, which extends in tho north-eastern corner, across the ridge of the Vosges, is drained by the Bruche, which rises in those moun tains and flows down into the Ill near Strasbourg. The central parts are drained by the Moszutz [vol. iii. col. 874], one of the largest affiueuts of the Rhine, and its tributaries. It receives the Vologne and Durbion on the right bank. The Meurthe risen in the slopes of the Vosges, on the eastern side of the department, and flows north west into the adjacent department of Meurthe, where it joins tho Moselle. The Mortague, a feeder of tho Meurthe, and the Madon, feeder of the Moselle, rise in the department of Vosges, but do not join their principal streams till they reach the department of Meurthe. The Plaine and the Rabodot, feeders of the Meurthe, rise in other departments, but join their principal stream in this. The north-west of the department is drained by the Meuse, which crosses it from south to north, and by its feeders. A very small district in the north west is drained by the Oruain, which belongs to the system of the Seine.
The southern border of the department belongs to the basin of the Rhone, and is drained by the Sa8ne, which rises on the southern slopes of the Faucilles, and by the Coney, the Angronne, and the Combaute, which flow directly or ultimately into the g's8ne.
None of these rivers is navigable in the department of Vosges. Irrigation is well managed ; and the streams of the department are skilfully applied as a moving-power to the purposes of manufacture. There are several chalybeate, and also warm saline mineral-springs. There are also several small lakes in the east of the department The department is traversed by 6 imperial, 22 departmental, and several communal roads.