Viennne

Viennne, a dept. in the west of France, constituted mainly of the old province of Poitou, lies between Indre and Deux-Sèvres; area, 2691 sq. m.; pop. (1881) 340,295; (1891) 344,355. The Viennne, an affluent of the Loire, is the principal river, and has the Creuse as its chief tributary. The surface is mostly flat, with a gradual slope toward the north. The country consists almost wholly of fertile plains, fine pasture-lands, and extensive forests. The mineral riches comprise iron, manganese, and quarries of stone, including lithographic stones. The dept. is divided into the five arrondissements of Poitiers, Châtellerault, Civray, Loudun, Montmorillon. Poitiers is capital.