Aude

Département in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France, bounded by the Gulf of Lion to the east, the sparse uplands of the Corbières to the south, and the Massif Central to the north; area 6,139 sq km/2,271 sq mi; population (1999 est) 309,800. The River Aude flows through it. The capital and chief tourist centre is Carcassonne. Other important towns include Narbonne, Limoux, and Couiza. Aude is predominantly a wine-growing region, although there is some livestock rearing, as well as the growing of fruit, wheat, and oats, mainly to the west of the capital. Industries include some gold and silver mining and the extraction of salt from sea water.