Ariege, a southern department of France, formed chiefly of the old territory of Foix, and named after the Ariege river, which, rising in the eastern Pyrenees, flows N. N". W., and empties into the Garonne, after a course of 90 miles. It is bounded by the departments of Haute-Garonne, Aude, and Pyrenees-Orien-tales, and the Pyrenees mountains; area, 1,889 sq. m.; pop. in 1872, 246,298. The department lies principally on the northern slope of the Pyrenees, and some of the mountains on the southern border rise to an altitude of 9,000 and 10,000 feet. It contains valuable iron mines, the ore being in some places auriferous, and large quarries of marble, freestone, plaster, and slate. The Ariege carries gold sand, whence its ancient name, Aurigera. On the highlands are meadows, where cattle and merino sheep are raised in large numbers. The forests furnish good timber. Bears, wild boars, wolves, foxes, chamois, and deer are abundant. The lowlands are tolerably fertile and well cultivated, producing wheat, rye, oats, maize, millet, hemp, flax, and fruits of various kinds. Vineyards, to the extent of 5,000 acres, yield a wine of inferior quality, all of which is consumed at home.

The working of metals is the principal branch of manufacturing industry; but there are saw mills and paper mills, and manufactories of cloth, hosiery, linen, and soap. It is divided into the arrondissements of Foix, St. Girons, and Pamiers. Capital, Foix.