Morbihan
Encyclopedia : M : MO : MOR : Morbihan
| Morbihan | |
|---|---|
|
Details | |
| Information | |
| Number | 56 |
| Region | Bretagne |
| Prefecture | Vannes |
| Subprefectures | Lorient Pontivy |
| -1999 -Population density>Density | Ranked 32nd 643,873 94/km² |
| Area | 6823 km² |
| Arrondissements | 3 |
| Cantons | 42 |
| Communes | 261 |
| President of the General Council | Joseph-François Kergueris |
| Location | |
| |
Morbihan (Breton, Mor Bihan) is a département in south Brittany. The Breton name translates into English as Small Sea, referring to the Gulf of Morbihan, the enclosed sea that is the principal feature of the coastline.
History
Morbihan was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790 and is the only department known by its Breton name.Geography
Morbihan is part of the current région of Bretagne within Brittany and is surrounded by the departments of Finistère, Côte-d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine and Loire-Atlantique with the Atlantic Ocean on the southwest.In the Gulf of Morbihan there are several inhabited islands, the most important being the "île aux moines".
In the department of Morbihan, but outside the Gulf, there are four inhabited islands:
and one uninhabited- Meaban, on which there is an ornithological reserve
Culture
The Breton language is an important issue, and there are several Diwan bilingual schools and colleges in the department. Bilingual roadsigns are now common throughout Morbihan.Tourism
The megalithic alignments of Carnac are situated in Morbihan.See also
- Cantons of the Morbihan département
- Communes of the Morbihan département
- Arrondissements of the Morbihan département
External links
- [Prefecture website] (in French)
- [Conseil Général website] (in French)
- http://www.morbihan.com/
- http://www.breizh-voyages.fr
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