Editing Haute-Loire (section)

==Geography==
Haute-Loire is a department in south central [[France]] and is part of the region of [[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]]. The capital and largest town in the department is [[Le Puy-en-Velay]]. To the north of Haute-Loire lie [[Puy-de-Dôme]] and [[Loire (department)|Loire]], to the east lies [[Ardèche]], to the south lies [[Lozère]] and to the west lies [[Cantal]]. The river [[Loire]] rises in the southern part of the department and flows northwards, creating a wide valley. On either side of this lie ranges of mountains in the [[Massif Central]].<ref name=Philips>{{cite book |title=Philips' Modern School Atlas |year=1973 |publisher=George Philip and Son, Ltd. |isbn=0-540-05278-7 |pages=42–43}}</ref> The north part of the department is part of the [[Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park]], a [[protected area]] of traditionally-farmed agricultural land and woodland, covering a total area of {{convert|297,000|ha}}.<ref>{{cite book |author1=IUCN Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas |title=1990 United Nations list of national parks and protected areas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0uhtNruyLzkC&pg=PA88 |access-date=27 September 2015 |date=November 1990 |publisher=IUCN |isbn=978-2-8317-0032-8 |page=89}}</ref>

The department has four mountain ranges running north and south. These are the Haut-Vivarais and its continuation, the Boutières range, the Massif du [[Meygal]], the [[Velay mountains]] and the [[Margeride]] Mountains.<ref name=Everyman>{{cite book |title=Everyman's Encyclopaedia: Volume 8 |last=Bozman |first=E.F. |year=1966 |publisher=J.M. Dent and Sons |page=29}}</ref>

The highest point of the department is the [[Mont Mézenc]] (1753 m) and its average elevation is 719 m.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.zoomdici.fr/actualite/Haute-Loire-la-montagne-attire-t-elle-encore-du-monde--id141257.html |title=Haute-Loire : La montagne attire-t-elle encore du monde ?}}</ref> The two-thirds of the area is over 800 m and the lowest point is 393 m.

Historically, Velay has been associated with the traditional region of [[Vivarais]], now part of Ardèche. The two regions share a common dialect which is similar to that spoken in the south of [[Dauphiné]], the reason probably being associated with the trade links between the two regions.<ref name=Clout>{{cite book |author=Clout, Hugh D. |title=Themes in the Historical Geography of France |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zhrgBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA61 |year=2013 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-1-4832-6724-1 |pages=61–62}}</ref>

{{Further|topic=the lava dome|La Durande}}