Maine-et-Loire

Département in the Pays de la Loire region of France; area 7,130 sq km/2,753 sq mi; population (1999 est) 732,900. The département is bounded in the north by the rivers Mayenne and Sarthe, in the east by Indre-et-Loir département, in the south by Vienne, Deux-Sèvres, and Vendée, and in the west by Loire-Atlantique. The River Loire crosses the département from east to west, and forms in its course several islands. Vines are grown in some parts of the département (Saumur, for example), and the fertile plains are used for growing cereals, hemp, and sugar beet, and for horticulture. There are computing, electronic, and car-parts industries near Angers, the administrative centre. Angers is also a popular location for tourists interested in medieval architecture and history.

The River Mayenne, its feeder the Oudon, and the rivers Sarthe and Authion flow through the northern districts. The Mayenne and the Sarthe unite above Angers and form the Maine, which, after about 8 km/5 mi, flows into the Loire southwest of Angers.

Maine-et-Loire consists of part of the former province of Anjou.