Haute-Savoie

Infobox_Department_of_France
department=Haute-Savoie|number=74
region=Rhône-Alpes
prefecture=Annecy
subprefectures=Bonneville
Saint-Julien-en-Genevois
Thonon-les-Bains
population=631,679|pop_date=1999|pop_rank=33rd|density=144
area=4388|area_scale=9
arrond=4|cantons=34|communes=294
president=Ernest Nycollin|pres_party=UMP
img_coa=Blason73.svg

Haute-Savoie (Arpitan : "Savouè d’Amont" / "Hiôta-Savouè") is a French department, named for its location in the Alps mountain range.

History

Haute-Savoie (English: "Upper Savoy") is one of two departments of the region of Savoy that was annexed by France on 24 March 1860, the other being Savoie. For its history prior to 1860, and details of the annexation and reasons for the current separatist movement in the two departments, see Savoy.

Geography

To the north, Haute-Savoie borders on Switzerland, with Geneva as the closest major town, and Lake Geneva. To the east, Haute-Savoie borders Italy, and to the west the department of Ain. To the south it borders Savoie.

Mont Blanc and Lake Annecy are located in Haute-Savoie, as well as the town of Évian-les-Bains, the most famous town on the French shore of Lake Geneva, and well-known around the world for its mineral water, Evian.

Some of the world's most well-known ski resorts are located in Haute-Savoie. For instance, Chamonix — a city where skiing and mountaineering are at the heart of the economic activity, thanks to the Mont-Blanc, Europe's highest mountain (4808 meters high).

Lakes in Haute-Savoie:

* Lac de l'Aiguillette * Lac de l'Airon at Carroz * Lac d'Annecy * Lac d'Anterne * Lac Bénit at Mont-Saxonnex * Marais de la Braille between Saint-Félix and Bloye * At Massif du Chablais ** Lac d'Arvouin south of Cornettes de Bise ** Lac d'Avoriaz at Avoriaz ** Lac de Bise, west of Cornettes de Bise ** Lac de la Case ** Lac de Darbon south of Dent d'Oche ** Lac de Fontaine at Vacheresse ** Lac du Jotty at La Baume ** Lac de Montriond at Montriond ** Lac de la Mouille at Châtel ** Lac des Plagnes at Abondance ** Lac de Tavaneuse at Abondance ** Lac de Vallon at Bellevaux ** Lac de Vonnes at Châtel

* At Chamonix ** Lac à l'Anglais ** Lac Blanc at the Aiguilles Rouges ** Lac du Brévent ** Lac de Charamillon ** Lac de Champraz ** Lac Cornu ** Lac des Gaillands ** Lac Noir des Aiguilles Rouges at the Aiguilles Rouges ** Lac des Praz ** Lac de Tardevent * Lac des Chambres * Lac des Confins, massif des Aravis at La Clusaz * Lac des Dronières at Cruseilles * Lac de Flaine at Flaine * Lac de Génissiat at Génissiat dam * Lac des Gorges-du-Fier at Montrottier * Lac de la Griaz at Houches * Lacs Jovet at Contamines-Monjoie * Lacs des Laouchets * Lac de Lessy at col de la Forclaz-Lessy, below Pic de Jallouvre * Étang de Machilly at Machilly

* Lacs de Passy ** Lacs de la Cavettaz named "Lacs de Passy" at Passy ** Lac Bleu ** Lac de Pormenaz in the Passy nature preserve ** Lac Vert de Passy at Passy * Lac de Pététoz above La Chèvrerie * At Vallée du Giffre ** Lac de Gers at Samoëns ** Lac de Roy * Lac du Jotty Vallée d'Aulps * Lac des Jovets Contamines Monjoie ** Lac du Môle at Ville-en-Sallaz ** Lac de Préssy at Taninges ** Plan du Rocher at Gets ** Lac de Vogealle at Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval * Lac de Vallon at La Chèvrerie * Lac de Vernant at Carroz

Miscellaneous topics

* The area is famous for the entrance to the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Italy and is also home to Chamonix and other notable ski resorts.
* The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix from 25 January to 5 February 1924.

ee also

History

*Savoy - Historical region
*House of Savoy - Ruling dynasty of Savoy from 1032 to 1860
*Duchy of Savoy - Rulers of Savoy region from 1416 to 1720
*Kingdom of Sardinia - 1720 to 1860.

Language

*Arpitan language
*French language

Places

*Communes of the Haute-Savoie department
*Arrondissements of the Haute-Savoie department
*Cantons of the Haute-Savoie department
*Annecy - Capital
*Lake Annecy - The second largest lake in France.
*Lake Geneva - Lake divided between France and Switzerland.
*Mont Blanc - Tallest mountain in Europe
*Mont Blanc Tunnel - The tunnel through the French Alps.

Wine

*French wine - Haute-Savoie AOC Wines
*Savoy wine or Wine of Savoie Allobrogie

*Duchy of Savoy
*House of Savoy
*Kingdom of Sardinia

External links

* [http://www.cg74.fr General Council website]
* [http://www.haute-savoie.pref.gouv.fr/ Prefecture website]
* [http://www.france-voyage.com/travel-guide/haute-savoie.htm Upper Savoy Tourism Guide]