PYRENEES-ORIENTALES

dpartement, LanguedocRoussillon rgion, southern France, bounded on the east by the Mediterranean Sea, on the south by Spain, and on the west by the small principality of Andorra. Created from the historic province of Roussillon, the region of Cerdagne (in Spain, Cerdaa), and fragments of Languedoc, it has an area of 1,589 square miles (4,116 square km). In the west it is dominated by the granite Carlit Peak, 9,583 feet (2,921 m); surrounded by glacial lakes and by other peaks of over 8,500 feet (2,600 m), the Carlit Massif feeds the Arige, the Aude, and the Tt rivers, the last flowing northeast through Prades and Perpignan, the capital, to the Mediterranean Sea. The upper courses of the rivers are separated by high chains of mountains, which lose height as they extend north and northeastas does the Pyrenees range along the Spanish line of the border as it approaches the Mediterranean. The imposing Mount Canigou dominates the south-central part of the dpartement. The fertile, low-lying plain of Roussillon, bordered by lagoons along the coast, extends across the whole eastern region between the Corbires Massif and the Albres Range. Winters are long and rigorous in the upper valleys, while summers are hot and dry in the plain. Cultivation of vines, fruit, and vegetables in the plain has been pushed up into the mountain valleys; apricots, peaches, and cherries are specialties. The wine of Corbires is bottled for local consumption, whereas aperitifs such as Byrrh, Banyuls, and Rivesaltes have a nationwide market. The high-grade iron ore of Canigou is still worked; and light industries have been developed around Perpignan, which is also a tourist centre. Seaside resorts are popular, and winter sports attract large numbers of visitors. Music festivals given by the cellist Pablo Casals popularized Prades. A small enclave, Llivia, 1 mile (1.6 km) from the border, has remained Spanish territory. Catalan is widely spoken in Pyrnes-Orientales, and French is spoken with a heavy Catalan accent. The dpartement has three arrondissements, Perpignan, Cret, and Prades, and is in the educational division of Montpellier. Pop. (1991 est.) 367,100.