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Pyrenees (BASSES a department in the S W)

BASSES, a department in the S. W. corner of France, between the Landes and Spain, and having the Bay of Biscay on the W.; area 2,977 square miles; pop. about 435,000. It is divided into the arrondissements of Pau, Oloron, Orthez, Bayonne, and Mauléon, Chief town, Pau. The department occupies the N. slopes of the western Pyrenees. Agriculture is the principal industry; large herds of cattle and sheep are fed on the extensive pastures, and many swine in the wide forests. Of the numerous mineral springs the most important are those of Biarritz, Eaux- PYRITES Bonnes, and Eaux-Chaudes. The W. half of the department is the home of the BASQUES (q. v.).