VOSGES

massif extending west of the Rhine River Valley in the Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin, and Vosges dpartements of eastern France. Of ancient rocks, the dome-shaped mountains rise to their greatest heights north of Belfort Gap and then spread westward for more than 40 mi (64 km) toward the Moselle Valley and northward for more than 70 mi (114 km) parallel to the Rhine. They form chains of granite in the south and of red sandstone in the north, which fall abruptly to the Rhine Valley; but to the west the forested slopes descend more gently. In the south the high Vosges summits, known as ballons, exceed 4,000 ft (1,200 m), culminating in the Ballon de Guebwiller, 4,672 ft (1,424 m). In the southwest, a region favoured by holidaymakers, the heights slope down to pleasant valleys and to lakes, such as Grardmer and Longemer. In the northern Vosges, in the region southwest of Strasbourg, the heights reach 3,307 ft (1,008 m) at Le Donon mountain, dropping to less than 2,000 ft beyond the Col (pass) de Saverne. The higher mountains are covered with snow for nine months of the year and are both a tourist attraction and a winter sports area. In the shelter of the highest summits, to the southeast, are the vineyards of Alsace. dpartement, Lorraine region, eastern France, created chiefly from the southern part of the historic Lorraine province, with additional portions of Franche-Comt in the south and of Champagne in the west. With an area of 2,267 sq mi (5,871 sq km), it extends east-west from the crests of the Vosges highlands across the hilly Lorraine plateau-about 1,000-1,500 ft (300-450 m) above sea level-to high forest lands east and west of the Meuse River. The dpartement lies mainly in the drainage basins of the north-flowing Meuse and Moselle rivers; but the south-flowing Sane River rises in the southeast, where the land reaches heights of more than 1,800 ft. The climate is snowy and severe in winter, but summers are warm. The dpartement is one of the most wooded in France (pine, beech, and oak). Cereals are grown, and cattle are raised. Among the fruits produced, cherries and mirabelle plums are specialities. Textiles are the chief industry. The Vosges mountains are a region of tourism, and there are several spas, including Contrexville and Plombires. On the west bank of the Meuse, Domrmy-la-Pucelle, birthplace of St Joan of Arc, is a place of pilgrimage. The dpartement has three arrondissements: pinal, the capital; Neufchteau; and Saint-Di. Vosges is in the educational division of Nancy. Pop. (1990) 386,258.