ALPS, HIGHER DEPARTMENT OF. This department is bounded on the north by the department of Isère and Savoy, 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 extent of this department is 2161 square miles. It is divided into three arrondissements, twenty-four cantons, and 189 communes, having in 1851 a population of 132,038. It returns two members to the chamber of deputies. Gap is the capital town of the department, with a population of 7726.