Meuse

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For the river, see Meuse (river).
Meuse
Department
Prefecture building of the Meuse department, in Bar-le-Duc
Prefecture building of the Meuse department, in Bar-le-Duc
Coat of arms of Meuse
Coat of arms
Location of Meuse in France
Location of Meuse in France
Coordinates: 49°00′N 05°20′E / 49.000°N 5.333°E / 49.000; 5.333Coordinates: 49°00′N 05°20′E / 49.000°N 5.333°E / 49.000; 5.333
Country France
Region Lorraine
Prefecture Bar-le-Duc
Subprefectures Commercy
Verdun
Government
 • President of the General Council Christian Namy
Area1
 • Total 6,211 km2 (2,398 sq mi)
Population (1999)
 • Total 192,198
 • Rank 88th
 • Density 31/km2 (80/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Department number 55
Arrondissements 3
Cantons 31
Communes 498
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

Meuse (French pronunciation: ​[møz]) is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.

History[edit]

Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from the former provinces of Barrois (area of Bar-le-Duc) and Three Bishoprics (area of Verdun).

The department was one of the great battlefields of World War I; an important battle was fought in 1916 at Verdun.

Geography[edit]

Spring in Meuse

Meuse is part of the current region of Lorraine and is surrounded by the French departments of Ardennes, Marne, Haute-Marne, Vosges, Meurthe-et-Moselle, and Belgium on the north. Parts of Meuse belong to Parc naturel régional de Lorraine.

The important rivers are the following:

Population[edit]

The population has decreased sharply since the 19th century, with the rural exodus to the cities.

Tourism[edit]

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meuse&oldid=638432512"