Charente Inferieure

Charente-Inferieure, a maritime department of France, including the islands of Re, Oleron, Aix, and Madame, and having to the E. Charente, to the S. the Gironde, and to the W. the Bay of Biscay. The surface is flat, and the department is traversed by many navigable rivers which are united by canals, and on the coast are many good harbours which carry on an extensive coasting trade. Brandy is manufactured from the wine of the district, and there are pilchard and oyster fisheries.