Nord

Nord, the most northerly department of France, situated between lat. 50° and 51° 6' N., and long. 2° 5' and 4° 15' E.; area, 2,193 square miles. The length from N.W. to S.E. is 112 miles; the breadth, which nowhere exceeds 40 miles, becomes four only at the point where the department is traversed by the Lys. The English Channel forms the north boundary, and Belgium lies on the N.E. and E. The department is watered by the Scheldt, Sambre, and Oise. The first of these rivers divides it into two parts, that on the east being hilly and woody, whilst the west portion is a fertile and perfectly level plain. Lille (q.v.) is the largest town. The department is rich in minerals, espe cially coal, and the cotton, linen, woollen, lace, and other manufactures are very important.