Haute-Loire

Département in the Auvergne region of central France; area 4,965 sq km/1,917 sq mi; population (1999 est) 209,100. Situated on the central plateau of France, it is crossed by four upland areas, running north to south: the Vivarais; the Massif du Meygal; the Velay uplands; and the Margeride Mountains. The chief rivers are the Loire, with its tributaries the Borne and the Lignon, and the Allier. In the river valleys, fruit trees and vines are cultivated. In the rest of the département the principal economic activities are stock-raising and forestry. The main towns are Le Puy (the administrative centre), Brioude, and Yssingeaux.

Haute-Loire is formed from parts of the former provinces of Languedoc, Lyonnais, and Auvergne.