DORDOGNE

DORDOGNE, an inland department in the S.E. of France, taking its name from its principal river the Dordogne, and formed out of the old province of Périgord, with a small portion of Limousin. It is bounded on the N. by Haute Vienne, W. by Charente and Charente-Inférieure, S.W. by Gironde, S. by Lot-et-Garonne, and E. by Lot and Corrèze. It extends from 44. 35. to 45. 42. N. lat., and from 0. 0. to 1. 28. E. long., being about 77 miles in length from N. to S., and 69 in breadth from E. to W. In extent it is only exceeded by the departments of Gironde and Landes, its area being 2,261,781 acres, or 3534 square miles. It is divided into five arrondissements, with cantons, communes, and population, as follows:—

This department belongs almost wholly to the basin of the Dordogne; and, though it has no mountains properly so called, it is very hilly, the greater part of it being covered by low projections of the Limousin and Auvergne mountains. The highest elevations are in the S.E., but even there they do not exceed 650 feet in height. Dordogne is formed by the union of two mountain streams, the Dor and the Dogne, which rise in Mont d'Or, Puy-de-Dôme, and unite after a short course. It flows westward through the departments of Corrèze, Lot, Dordogne, and Gironde, and after a course of 250 miles (for 180 miles of which it is navigable), joins the Garonne 13 miles N. of Bordeaux. Its principal affluents are the Vézère and the Isle, both of which are in this department. The climate is on the whole agreeable and healthy, but rather humid, the winter and spring being generally rainy. The prevailing winds are from the north and west. A great part of the department consists of arid heaths and wastes incapable of cultivation. Sufficient corn, however, is grown for home consumption. About one-tenth of its entire surface is taken up in the cultivation of the vine. Its red and white wines are in high repute. In the forests the prevailing trees are the oak and the chestnut. The fruit of the latter is much used both as food by the people and for fattening hogs. The walnut is extensively cultivated for making oil. The truffles of this department are considered the best in France. Dordogne is rich in various kinds of minerals, as iron, copper, lead, manganese, coal, marble, alabaster, lithographic stones, gypsum, &c. The chief branches of industry are the working in metals, particularly iron and steel, and the manufacture of paper. Dordogne also produces coarse woollens, serges, leather, earthenware, hosiery, beer, brandy, &c. The language is a patois of French and Provençal.