LOIRE

dpartement, Rhne-Alpes rgion, east-central France, comprising chiefly the ancient Forez region with parts of the historic Lyonnais and Beaujolais provinces. One of the most industrialized areas in France, Loire lies in the eastern part of the Massif Central and is traversed south to north for more than 70 miles (110 km) by the Loire River. Saint-tienne (q.v.), the departmental capital, is situated in a coal basin between the Loire River and the Rhne River (which borders the dpartement for 7 miles ). Firminy, Le Chambon, Saint-Chamond, and other industrial towns are strung out for 30 miles (48 km) southwest and northeast of Saint-tienne. Roanne, in the north, is another industrial centre. Mount Pilat, 4,698 feet (1,432 m), rises southeast of Saint-tienne between the industrial basin and the Rhne. The Lyonnais Mountains lie to the northeast of Saint-tienne. In its course to the north, the Loire flows west of Saint-tienne through the Forez Plain, which extends between mountain chains almost the entire length of the dpartement. The Forez Mountains, capped by Pierre-sur-Haute (5,261 feet ), stretch two-thirds of the way, and the Madeleine Mountains continue northward. On the east, the Lyonnais Mountains are continued to the north by the Beaujolais Range. The climate is cold and harsh in the extensively forested mountain regions but more clement in the valleys. Much of the marshy and waterlogged Forez Plain has been reclaimed for pastoral farming. Cereals are grown and cattle raised in the Roannais Plain, and cattle farming is practiced in the Lyonnais and Beaujolais heights. Coal production in the Saint-tienne field, which comprised 35 percent of France's output in the 19th century, has dwindled to an insignificant amount. Heavy industriessteelworks, coking plants, metalworks, armaments, bicycles, and hardwarehave had to specialize to remain competitive. Looms throughout the dpartement supply the Lyon textile industry. Uranium fields have been discovered at Saint-Priest-la-Prugne, southwest of Roanne. Ancient villages with medieval churches and chteaus abound. The dpartement has three arrondissements, Saint-tienne, Roanne, and Montbrison (the former capital of the Forez county); it is in the educational division of Lyon. Area 1,846 square miles (4,781 square km). Pop. (1990) 746,288.