a department in the south of France, at the foot of the Pyrenees, and named from a river which flows through it. The southern part is covered with mountains, which afford pasture to great quantities of cattle; in the northern parts corn of all kinds, and vines, are cultivated. There are mines of iron, copper, silver, lead, and coal. There are a few manufactures of cottons and woollens. The superficial extent of the department is 529,540 hectares, and its population in 1815 was 222,936. Foix is the chief town.