Jura

Département in the Franche-Comté region of France; area 5,007 sq km/1,933 sq mi; population (1999 est) 250,900. It is bordered in the east by Switzerland. The greater part of the département is occupied by the Jura Mountains, but there is a plain in the west. The chief rivers are the Doubs and the Ain. Some cereals and sugar beet are grown, sheep and horses are raised, and wine is produced. There are metallurgical, paper, furniture, food, and watchmaking industries and hydroelectric schemes. The administrative centre is Lons-le-Saunier. Other towns include Dole and St-Claude.

Jura was formed from part of the former province of Franche-Comté.