ALPS, HIGHER, Department of. This department makes a part of Dauphiné. It is bounded on the north by the departments of Mont Blanc and Isère, on the east by Piedmont, on the south by the department of the Lower Alps, and on the west by that of the Drome and part of that of Isère. The soil consists of enormous mountains and narrow valleys. Two thirds of the surface are useless for agricultural purposes. The north wind, which generally prevails, renders the climate cold; and the snow remains in some of the valleys eight months of the year. The principal river is the Durance, which is extremely rapid, and commits great ravages by its inundations. The superficies of this department is about 1,084,614 square acres, and its population 121,500. It is divided into three communal districts. Embrun is the principal town.