DROME

dpartement, Rhne-Alpes rgion, southeastern France, formerly part of the historic provinces of Dauphin and Provence (qq.v.). It is bordered on the west for more than 70 miles (111 km) by the Rhne River, on which Valence (q.v.), its capital, is situated. Drme has an area of 2,521 square miles (6,530 square km). The Drme and Isre rivers and other tributaries of the Rhne flow through the dpartement. The eastern part of the dpartement is mountainous and well wooded and contains the farthest outliers of the Pre-Alps of Vercors (bordered by an abrupt ridge of limestone), Diois, and Barronies. In the west, plains extend to the Rhne River's sheltered valley. France's main motorway, the Autoroute of the South, passes through Drme along the east bank of the Rhne. The dpartement's lowlands have sunny, warm summers despite the winds of the mistral (a cold seasonal wind blowing from the north), and there is cultivation of grains and of fruits. The raising of silkworms and the spinning of silk, once major industries, ceased about the beginning of the 20th century because of competition with Chinese and Italian suppliers. Nevertheless, natural silk is still imported for weaving, both alone and with synthetic fibres, in some of the small cities of the dpartement. Good wines (Ctes-du-Rhne, Hermitage) are produced in the region's vineyards, and Montlimar is famous for its nougat. France's most important nuclear-generating station is situated in Pierrelatte in the Rhne valley south of Montlimar. Drme is noted for its picturesque towns and villages including Grignan, Dieulefit, and La GardeAdhmar. In Nyons a 14th-century bridge crosses the Aigues. The dpartement has three arrondissementsValence, Die, and Nyonsand is in the educational division of Grenoble. Pop. (1991 est.) 418,624.