ARIEGE

This article appears in Volume V02, Page 491 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

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ARIEGE , an inland department of southern France, bounded S. by Spain, W. and N. by the department of Halite-Garonne, N.E. and E. by Aude, and S.E. by Pyrenees-Orientales. it
embraces the old countship of Foix, and a portion of

Languedoc

LANGUEDOC

and Gascony. Area, 1893 sq. m. Pop. (1906) 205,684. Ariege is for the most part mountainous. Its southern border is occupied by the snow-clad peaks of the eastern Pyrenees, the highest of which within the department is the Pic de Montcalm (10,512 ft.). Communication with Spain is afforded by a large number of ports or cols, which are, however, for the most part difficult paths, and only practicable for a few months in the year. Farther to the north two lesser ranges running parallel to the main chain traverse the centre of the department from

south

SOUTH
SOUTH, ROBERT (1634–1716)

east

EAST
EAST, ALFRED (1849- )

to north-west. The more southerly, the Montagne de Tabe, contains, at its

south

SOUTH
SOUTH, ROBERT (1634–1716)

-eastern end, several heights between 7200 and 9200 ft., while the Montagnes de Plantaurel to the north of Foix are of lesser altitude. These latter divide the fertile alluvial plains of the north from the mountains of the centre and south. The department is intersected by torrents belonging to the Garonne basinthe Salat, the Arize, which, near Mas d'Azil, flows through a subterranean gallery, the Ariege and the Hers. The climate is mild in the south, but naturally very severe among the mountains. Generally speaking, the arable land, which is chiefly occupied by small holdings, is confined to the lowlands. Wheat, maize and potatoes are the

chief

CHIEF (from Fr. chef, head, Lat. caput)

crops. Good vineyards and market gardens are found in the neighbour-hood of Pamiers in the north. Flax and hemp are also cultivated. The mountains afford excellent pasture, and a considerable number of cattle, sheep and swine are reared. Poultry- and bee-farming flourish. Forests cover more than one-third of the department and harbour wild boars and even bears. Game, birds of prey and fish are plentiful. There is abundance of minerals, including lead, copper, manganese and especially iron. Grindstones, building-stone,

talc

TALC

, gypsum, marble and phosphates are also produced. Warm

mineral

MINERAL

springs of note are found at Ax, Aulus and Ussat. Pamiers and St Girons are the most important industrial towns. Iron founding and forging, which have their

chief

CHIEF (from Fr. chef, head, Lat. caput)

centre at Pamiers; are principal

industries

INDUSTRIES

. Flour-milling,

paper

PAPER
PAPER (Fr. papier, from Lat. papyrus)

-making and cloth-weaving may also be mentioned. Ariege is served by the Southern railway. It forms the diocese of Pamiers and belongs to the ecclesiastical province of Toulouse. It is within the circumscriptions of the academie (educational division) and of the court of appeal of Toulouse and of the XVII. army corps. Its

capital

CAPITAL (i.e. capital stock or fund)
CAPITAL (Lat. caput, head)

is Foix; it comprises the arrondissements of Foix, St Girons and Pamiers, with 20 cantons and 338 communes. Foix, Pamiers, St Girons and St Lizier-de-Couserans are the more noteworthy towns. Mention may also be made of Mirepoix, once the seat of a bishopric, and possessing a cathedral (15th and 16th centuries) with a remarkable

Gothic

GOTHIC

spire.

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