RHINE, Upper, a department in the east of France, consisting of the higher part of the ancient Alsace. The soil is unequal, and in many places poor. It produces wheat, barley, rye, flax, madder, wine, and legumes. There are mines of silver, copper, lead, iron, and coal. The manufactures are woollen and cotton cloths, hosiery, ribbons, cotton-yarn, iron and steel ware, powder, and watches. The extent of this department in 1800 was 549,607 hectares, and the population 382,285; but about one-fifth of its surface having been disjoined from it and annexed to Switzerland in 1815, its population in 1817 was only 318,577. Its contributions in 1802 amounted to 2,837,963 francs. Colmar is the chief town.