Ariège (department)

Ariège (French pronunciation: ​[aʁjɛʒ]; Occitan: Arièja) is a department in the Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées region of southwestern France named after the Ariège River. Its capital is the town of Foix and the INSEE and Postal code is 09. The inhabitants of the department are known as Ariègeois or Ariègeoises.

Geography

The department is part of the current region of Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées and is surrounded by the French departments of Haute-Garonne to the west and north, Aude to the east, and Pyrénées-Orientales in the south-east, as well as Spain (Lleida) and Andorra in the south.

Covering an area of 4,890 km², the department is divided into three arrondissements: Foix, Pamiers, and Saint-Girons.

It is composed of 13 cantons, 21 intercommunalities, and 332 communes. In 2009 the Regional Natural Park of the Ariège Pyrenees was created covering about 40% of the area of the department of Ariège.

Physical geography

There are three main areas:

The north of the department consists of plains, hills and low valleys where agriculture is prevalent. Part of Lauragais covers the northeast of the department. Two major rivers, the Ariège and the Lèze traverse the plain from south to north. A landscape of grain fields dominates the scene with growing of corn and sunflowers and with prairies.

Ariège

Ariège may refer to:

Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler is a compact and mid-size (Wrangler Unlimited models) four-wheel drive off-road and sport utility vehicle (SUV), manufactured by Jeep, and is currently in its third generation. The Wrangler is not a direct descendant of the World War II Willys MB or Willys civilian Jeeps (Jeep CJ) of the mid-1940s through 1980s, later produced by Kaiser-Jeep and by American Motors (AMC), despite this common misconception, and as illustrated by the factory dash plaques affixed to the last Jeeps (CJ-7) produced, that read "Last of a Great Breed – This collectors edition CJ ends an era that began with the legendary Jeep of World War II".

Outwardly resembling the Jeep CJ-7, the Wrangler, which was formally announced on May 13, 1986, was based on a new set of design parameters. "The product philosophy behind the two vehicles" Francios Castaing (AMC VP of Product Engineering) explained, "is completely different". Just like the Willys MB and the Jeep CJ, Wranglers continue to use a separate body and frame (although of a new design), rigid live axles both front and rear, a fold-flat windshield, and can be driven without doors. But its suspension, drivetrain, and interior were borrowed from the new Cherokee (XJ) model. The Wrangler debuted in 1986 as a new model to fill the void left by the discontinuance of the famous Jeep model (CJ), was revised in 1996, and completely redesigned in 2007. In addition to the model name Wrangler, each model received a designation corresponding to its generation: YJ (1986–1995), TJ (1996–2006), TJU's (commonly known as LJ's- 2004–2006 Unlimited models, or YJL, in the Egyptian owners manual.), JKU (2007–present Unlimited models) and JK (2007–present). Foreign military versions of the Wrangler have carried the J8 designation which was initially dubbed TJL when first produced at Arab American Vehicle's Egyptian plant.

France

France (French: [fʁɑ̃s]), officially the French Republic (French: République française [ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛz]), is a sovereign state comprising territory in western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. The European part of France, called metropolitan France, extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. France spans 643,801 square kilometres (248,573 sq mi) and has a total population of 66.6 million. It is a unitary semi-presidential republic with the capital in Paris, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre. The Constitution of France establishes the state as secular and democratic, with its sovereignty derived from the people.

During the Iron Age, what is now Metropolitan France was inhabited by the Gauls, a Celtic people. The Gauls were conquered in 51 BC by the Roman Empire, which held Gaul until 486. The Gallo-Romans faced raids and migration from the Germanic Franks, who dominated the region for hundreds of years, eventually creating the medieval Kingdom of France. France emerged as a major European power in the Late Middle Ages, with its victory in the Hundred Years' War (1337 to 1453) strengthening French state-building and paving the way for a future centralized absolute monarchy. During the Renaissance, France experienced a vast cultural development and established the beginning of a global colonial empire. The 16th century was dominated by religious civil wars between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots).