Isère

Département in the Rhône-Alpes region of France, lying east of the River Rhône; area 7,474 sq km/2,886 sq mi; population (1999 est) 1,094,000. The River Isère and its tributaries the Drac and Romanche flow through it. Some wheat, potatoes, tobacco, and hemp are grown and livestock is reared. Wine is produced in the Isère valley. Iron and lead are found and hydroelectric power is well developed. There are metallurgical, chemical, textile, and paper industries. The administrative centre is Grenoble. Other towns include La Tour-du-Pin and Vienne.

In the southeast the land is heavily wooded and mountainous, including the ranges of Grande-Chartreuse and Vercors. In the northeast the land is lower, but generally infertile except in the river valleys.