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Aquitaine Home
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Aquitaine,
encompassing the departments of Gironde, Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques in southwestern France. The capital is Bordeaux.
Lowlands predominate in Aquitaine outside the Pyrenees mountains themselves, which rise in the south. The highest point in the region is the peak of Midi d'Ossau (9,465 feet; most land, however, lies below 1,600 feet. Annual precipitation exceeds 30 inches (800 mm) outside Lot-et-Garonne and southern Dordogne and increases toward the Pyrenees. An oceanic climate prevails.
The population of the Aquitaine region is increasingly urban, and small towns are generally in decline. Corn (maize) was introduced into Aquitaine in the late 16th century and has become the leading cereal. Viticulture is widespread. Cash crops were introduced in the late 19th century and include tobacco, apples, pears, peaches, French beans, and peas. Forests cover much of the land. The industrial sector is of little importance outside Bordeaux.