HAUTE-NORMANDIE

rgion, northern France, encompassing the dpartements of Eure and Seine-Maritime and coextensive with northeastern Normandy. The capital is Rouen. The region is bounded by the dpartements of Calvados and Orne to the west, Eure-et-Loir to the south, and Yvelines, Val-d'Oise, Oise, and Somme to the east. The English Channel lies to the northwest. Haute-Normandie is mostly lowland belonging to the Paris Basin and is drained by the Seine River. A humid climate prevails. Haute-Normandie is densely populated. The population declined slightly between 1851 and 1946, as in much of rural France during that period, but immigration and a relatively high birth rate have accounted for an increase since World War II. This recovery has favoured Seine-Maritime, whose population is heavily concentrated in Le Havre, Rouen, and smaller urban centres along the Seine River. Eure, by contrast, still has a large rural population. Animal husbandry dominates agriculture, and the region is a leading producer of milk and beef. Grainfields around Saint-Andr-de-l'Eure and Neubourg in Eure have been converted to pasture. Dieppe is an important fishing port. Le Havre, Rouen, and other areas along the Seine River are highly industrialized. Petroleum refineries outside Le Havre and between Le Havre and Rouen have established Seine-Maritime as a major petrochemical centre. Renault automobiles are manufactured in Clon outside Elbeuf and near Le Havre in Sandouville. Eure has benefited from its proximity to Paris, and its industries have expanded rapidly since 1950. Many Parisians own houses in the countryside of Eure. Area 4,756 square miles (12,318 square km). Pop. (1990) 1,737,247.