MORBIHAN

dpartement, Bretagne rgion, northwestern France, created from a part of western Brittany. It takes its name from the practically landlocked Morbihan (Breton: Little Sea) Gulf and covers the south coast of the Breton peninsula bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The ancient towns of Auray and Vannes (q.v.), the capital, are situated on estuaries opening southward onto the gulf. West of the gulf, the coast juts out to the Quiberon Peninsula, then, turning northwestward, passes the mouth of the three estuaries on which Lorient, a naval port, is situated, and extends to the estuary of the Leita River, which divides Morbihan from Finistre dpartement. East of the gulf, the coast, indented by estuaries and creeks, extends to the mouth of the Vilaine River and to the border of Loire-Atlantique dpartement. Belle-le-en-Mer, south of Quiberon, and other small islands are included in Morbihan. The highest point is in the Montagnes Noires (970 feet ), a range that forms the northwestern boundary. The main ranges of hills and the central plateau of the Landes de Lanvaux heath run west to east, parallel to the coast, across nearly the entire dpartement. Rivers in the west, including the Scorff and the Blavet, flow southward, but the main streams in the east, such as the Oust and the Arz, flow eastward to join the Vilaine. The climate is predominantly oceanic, with frequent and abundant rain at all seasons. Agriculture and fishing are the principal activities, and oysters are cultivated in the gulf. Light industries have been established at Vannes, submarines are built at Lorient, and there is some canning in the harbour towns of Port-Louis, tel, Quiberon, and Groix. The tourist industry is active along the entire length of the coast. Morbihan has more prehistoric stone monuments than any other dpartement of France, with several thousand megaliths in the Carnac-Locmariaquer area west of the Morbihan Gulf. Breton is still spoken in the west, and traditional folklore remains very much alive. The medieval towns and villages are major tourist attractions. The dpartement is divided into the arrondissements of Vannes, Lorient, and Pontivy. It is in the educational division of Rennes. Area 2,634 square miles (6,823 square km). Pop. (1993 est.) 629,300.