Puyde Dome

Puy de Dome, a department of France, bounded N. by Allier, S. by Haute-Loire and Cantal, E. by Loire, and W. by Correze and Creusc. The name is derived from an extinct volcano, at the foot of which the capital, Clermont-Ferrand, is built. The ranges of the Monts Dore and Monts DSme on the W. and of the Monts du Forez in the E. enclose the fertile plain of Limagne, which yields heavy crops of cereals, beetroot, rape, and wine, besides fruits of all kinds, About half of the total area of 3,000 square miles is under cultivation, but the mountain pastures support vast numbers of cattle and sheep. The district is drained by the Loire, with its tributaries the Allier, Cher, and Gironde, and by the Dordogne and other smaller streams. Mineral springs of medicinal virtue attract many invalids to Royat, Mont Dore les Bains, La Bourboule, and other thermal stations. Among the leading industries are wool- and cotton-spinning, cutlery, paper- and lace-making, leather-dressing.