Rhone-Alpes Rhone-Alpes

Rhone-Alpes - Definition and Overview

Région Rhône-Alpes
Blason du Rhône-Alpes
Détails
Information
Capital:Lyon
Population


 - Total


 - Density


5,645,407 (1999 census)
5,893,000 (1.1.2004 estimates)


129 /km²
Area43 698 km²
Arrondissements25
Cantons335
Communes2 879
President of the
regional council
Jean-Jack Queyranne
(PS)
Départements
Ain (01)
Ardèche (07)
Drôme (26)
Isère (38)
Loire (42)
Rhône (69)
Savoie (73)
Haute-Savoie (74)
Location
Localisation du Rhône-Alpes en France

Rhône-Alpes is one of the 26 regions of France. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range.

It is a very dynamic and prosperous region, second only to Ile-de-France (home to Paris, the capital). This can be attributed to the diversity of the economics : agriculture in the Ain, tourism in Lyon and the Alps (many of France's best-known ski resorts are found in Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Isère), hi-tech industry in Grenoble.

It should be noted, too, that Rhône-Alpes is a major European transit hub, linking northern France and countries to the Mediterranean area : the French riviera, Spain and Portugal, and Italy.

As a result of election results, there is currently a campaign to unite the Savoie and Haute-Savoie départements as a separate Savoie Region. For details see Savoy.

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