one of the largest rivers in France, which, rising among the Alps of Switzerland, passes through the lake of Geneva, visits that city, and then runs southwest to Lyons; where, joining the river Soane, it continues its course due south, passing by Orange, Avignon, and Arles, and falls into the Mediterranean a little above Marseilles.

Rhone, is also the name of a department in the south-east of France, of which Lyons is the chief town. It lies along the west side of the river Rhone; it is rather mountainous, not very fertile in grain, but abounding in good pasturage, and producing excellent wines. Its extent is about 1039 square English miles, and its population in 1815 was 347,381 persons. The contributions for the year 1802 amounted to 4,391,838 francs.