FINISTRE

dpartement, in Bretagne rgion, northwestern France, created from the western part of the historic province of Brittany. Its name is from the Latin finis terrae (land's end). Finistre is bounded on the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean and on the north by the English Channel. The Aulne Basin separates the heights of the Monts d'Arre (1,260 feet ) in the north and the Montagnes Noires (1,001 feet ) in the south, both running east-west. Off the western coast lies the island of Ouessant (Ushant). The main feature of the west coast is Iroise Bay, into which the Crozon Peninsula divides the Brest roadstead from Douarnenez Bay. To the south, the low-lying coast traces the most northerly part of the Bay of Biscay. Finistre has an oceanic climate with abundant rainfall and a dependable climatic regime, favouring agricultural production particularly in the northeast (fruits, vegetables, cereals, and cattle). More than one-third of the land is covered by forest, heath, and wasteland. Commercial fishing is largely a seasonal activity, which families combine with working their small farms. Fishing ports are numerous, the most important being Concarneau and Douarnenez, the former the second-leading fishing port in France. Other industry (agricultural machinery, naval and riverboat shipbuilding, foundries, and engineering works) is not extensive. Brest is primarily a naval base and has an important port. Roscoff is a northern seaside resort. In the south, Quimper, the departmental capital, is a centre for tourism. The region has preserved its distinctive Breton character, and the language is still spoken in the countryside. The dpartement has four arrondissementsQuimper, Brest, Chteaulin, and Morlaixand is in the educational division of Rennes. Area 2,600 square miles (6,733 square km). Pop. (1992 est.) 839,700.