a department in the S.E. of France, bounded on the W. by the Rhone, which separates it from Ardèche; on the N. and N.E. by the department of Isère; on the E. by that of the Hautes-Alpes; on the S.E. by that of Basses-Alpes; and S. by that of Vaucluse. Its greatest length from north to south is about 78 miles; its greatest breadth nearly 50 miles; its area about 2500 square miles. Pop. (1851) 326,846.

Though separated from the maritime Alps by the departments of the Hautes and Basses-Alpes, Drôme is covered in its eastern parts by spurs of that chain. One of the largest of these spurs forms, for a considerable distance, the eastern boundary of the department, on which side it throws up the three lofty peaks of Embrun, Tous, and Ventoux. The ridges (for the most part wooded) which traverse the department with tolerable regularity from east to west, are all off-shoots from this Alpine spur. These ridges divide the department in its whole extent into three great natural divisions or valleys, with a general slope westwards to the Rhone. These valleys are that of the Isère in the north, that of the Drôme, from which the department derives its name, and which occupies the central portion of the province, and that of the Aigues which occupies all its southern part. The affluents of the Rhone which water this southern portion are the Roubion, the Berre, the Dèze, the Aigues, and the Ouveze. The soil of the department, naturally not very fertile, is thin and sandy. The disposition of its various elevations presenting a series of basins rising over each other in the manner of an amphitheatre, is very favourable to the construction of artificial canals for the purposes of irrigation. These canals are very numerous, and are managed with much skill by the inhabitants. As the department is generally mountainous, its climate is rather cold than temperate, but on the whole bracing and healthy. Snow is visible on the mountain-tops during the greater part of the year; but the summer-heat in the valleys that border the Rhone is intense. The prevailing winds are those of the north and south.

In the more inaccessible mountains bears, wild-goats, and chamois are found in great numbers, as well as some of the larger kinds of birds of prey. In the lower grounds wolves and foxes abound. On the islands in the Rhone and on the banks of some of the inland lakes, some colonies of beavers are still to be seen. The department abounds in game, both great and small of every kind; but except the sheep and swine the domestic animals are nowise remarkable. The principal forest-trees found in Drôme are the pine, the beech, and the oak. In the valleys the olive, chestnut, almond, and mulberry trees are a great source of wealth to the natives. Black truffles of the finest quality also grow in great abundance. The botanical flora of the department is rich and various. The mineral wealth of the department is considerable, as in various parts of it are found Dromedary mines of iron, copper, lead, and coal, besides marbles and granite quarries. Rock-crystal of fine quality is also found, as well as black and red clay for pottery, chalk, &c. There are numerous mineral wells throughout the department; the most celebrated is that of Dieu-le-fit. For administrative and political purposes the department is divided into the four arrondissements of Valence, Die, Montélimart, and Nyons, comprising 28 cantons and 360 communes: it forms part of the seventh military division, the headquarters of which are at Lyons: its legal tribunals are under the royal court of Grenoble. It returns four deputies to the imperial parliament, and is divided into the four electoral arrondissements of Valence, Romans, Montélimart, and Crest. Agriculture is not very far advanced in the Drôme. About two-fifths of the soil are arable and yield good corn crops, though barely sufficient for the requirements of the people. Two-sevenths of the entire surface are covered with woods, while two-ninths of it are unimprovable moorland. Large quantities of excellent wines are made in the Drôme, and of these nearly nine millions of gallons are annually exported. The best of these wines are the red and white hermitage. The territorial revenues of the department are estimated at about half-a-million sterling. The manufacturing and commercial industry of the department is very considerable. The most important article of produce is silk, of which about 500,000 lbs. are annually produced. Besides this, however, there are important manufactures of coarse cloths, serges, cotton-yarn, oil, brandy, leather, paper, bricks, &c. The total number of workshops and factories in the department is 711, besides 500 wind and water mills, and 5 blast-furnaces. The total number of annual fairs is 440.