Loire-Inférieure

Loire-Inférieure, a maritime department in the west of France, formed out of the southern portion of the old province of Brittany, and comprising the arrondissements of Nantes, Ancenis, Paimbœuf, Châteaubriant, and St Nazaire, with Nantes for its capital. Area, 2654 sq. m.; pop. (1872) 602,206; (1891) 645,263. It has a coastline of 78 miles. The Loire, flowing westwards, intersects it and forms a wide estuary; the Vilaine skirts its north-west boundary. In the south of the department lies the lake of Grand-Lieu, 26 sq. m. in extent. The interior is on the whole flat, and the soil fertile, producing cereals, potatoes, beet-root, hemp, and fodder. Bees are kept. There are fine oak and pine forests. Salt marshes are numerous along the shore. The vineyards yield annually about 30 million gallons of wine, and the orchards some 4½ million gallons of cider. Granite, slate, and limestone are quarried. The industrial establishments include ironworks, sugar-refineries, glass-works, factories for tinning fruits and sardines, &c. St Nazaire has grown into an important seaport, having taken the place formerly occupied by Nantes. Shipbuilding is carried on at Nantes. The coast-fisheries and general export trade are extensive.