Var

River in southern France, rising on the Col de la Cayolle (2,326 m/7,631 ft) in the Maritime Alps, in the département of Alpes-Maritimes, and flowing generally southeast for 130 km/81 mi into the Mediterranean near Nice. It gives its name to the Var département in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

Its tributaries include the Tinée and Vésubie rivers.

Var

Département in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France; area 6,000 sq km/2,317 sq mi; population (1999 est) 898,400. It has a much-indented coastline on the Mediterranean. Var is generally hilly and wooded; the River Argens flows through it. Fruit, flowers, vines, and olives are produced in coastal districts. There are bauxite, lead, zinc, and salt deposits; shipbuilding, armaments, engineering and chemical industries; and furniture is manufactured. The principal towns are Toulon (the administrative centre) and Draguignan. Tourism is important; resorts include Hyères, Fréjus, and St-Raphaël.