LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON

rgion, encompassing the southern French dpartements of Lozre, Gard, Hrault, Aude, and Pyrnes-Orientales and roughly coextensive with the former province of Languedoc (q.v.). The capital is Montpellier. The region has an area of 10,570 square miles (27,376 square km) and is bounded by the dpartements of Arige to the west, Haute-Garonne, Tarn, Aveyron, and Cantal to the northwest, Haute-Loire to the north, Ardche to the northeast, and Vaucluse and Bouches-du-Rhne to the east. Gard, Hrault, Aude, and Pyrnes-Orientales face the Mediterranean to the southeast; Spain borders Pyrnes-Orientales to the south. The Massif Central extends into Lozre and marks the northwestern borders of Gard, Hrault, and Aude. The plain of Languedoc faces the Mediterranean and is separated from the plain of Roussillon to the southwest by the mountains of Corbires. The Pyrenees rise to the south. A Mediterranean climate prevails along the coast and a mountain climate in Lozre and the Pyrenees. The population of Languedoc declined by nearly 10 percent between 1900 and 1954, in common with most predominantly rural areas of France during this period, but has subsequently increased. Immigrants from Spain, Italy, and North Africa have accounted for much of the increase. Demographic recovery has favoured Hrault, Gard, and Pyrnes-Orientales over Lozre and Aude. The proportion of urban population approaches the national average. Viticulture is concentrated in the plains of Aude, Hrault, and Gard, which produce about one-half of France's grapes. Animal husbandry predominates in the Causses region. The Compagnie Nationale d'Amnagement de la Rgion du Bas-Rhne et du Languedoc (National Company for the Development of the Region of the Lower Rhne and Languedoc) has brought approximately 500,000 acres (200,000 hectares) under irrigation in an effort to diversify agricultural output. Manufacturing is underdeveloped outside the lower Rhne. Plutonium is processed at Marcoule in Gard, while Ardoise in Gard is the site of the electrometallurgical centre of Ugine-Kuhlmann. Tourism is being developed along the Mediterranean. Pop. (1990) 2,114,985.