a department of France, formed from the old province of Orléanais (Orléanais proper, Gâtinais, and Sologne), and a small part of Berry. It is bounded on the N. by the departments of Seine-et-Marne and Seine-et-Oise, on the E. by that of Yonne, on the S. by those of Nièvre, Cher, and Loir-et-Cher, and on the W. by those of Loir-et-Cher and Eure-et-Loir; and is situated between the parallels of N. Lat. 47° 30' and 48° 30', and the meridian of Paris passes through it. It has an area of 2551 square miles. The surface is partly flat, and partly undulating, and is almost destitute of hills, with the exception of a low ridge in the E., forming the watershed of the rivers Seine and Loire. The latter river traverses the department from E. to W., and divides it unequally. It receives as a tributary the Loiret, which gives its name to the department. The other streams are the Loing and the Essonne. The water communication is rendered very complete by the canals of Orleans, Loing, Briare, and the lateral canal of the Loire. The number of small lakes and ponds is very great—nearly 800 in all. The mineral wealth of Loiret is not great, being confined principally to lime, building stone, marl, and potter's clay. Manufactures have made little progress, and have fallen off considerably of late, especially at Orleans. More than half of the department is arable, and remarkably fertile; the N. particularly so, forming part of the garden of France. The chief crop is wheat; saffron also is much grown; and wine is abundant. The forests of Orleans and Montargis are extensive. Cattle are very good, and the breed of sheep is improving. Bees are much attended to. There is an important trade in corn, wine, spirits, fruits, fish, honey, saffron, wool, cattle, and timber.

The capital is Orleans, with a population of (in 1851) 47,393. This department is divided into four arrondissements, which, with their subdivisions, are as follows:

| Canton | Communes | Pop. in 1851 | |--------|----------|-------------| | Orleans | 14 | 105 | | Glen | 5 | 49 | | Montargis | 7 | 95 | | Pithiviers | 5 | 98 | | **Total** | **31** | **348** |

LOJA, a town of Spain, province of Granada, situate in a deep and beautiful valley, through which flows the Genil, here crossed by a Moorish bridge, 25 miles W.S.W. of Granada. The situation is very steep, and the streets are very irregular. The castle stands on a rock in the centre of the town, which, from being the key to Granada, was once a place of great military importance. The town is still in a thriving condition, and carries on manufactures of coarse woollens, silks, paper, and leather. Pop. about 14,000.