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Var is a département of southeastern France.
History Var was formed in 1790 of a part of Lower Provence, but in 1860 it was reduced by the transfer of the district of Grasse to the newly formed département of the Alpes-Maritimes, which is why the Var River does not now flow in the département to which it gives its name. The Var is also famous for its wine production - the town of Bandol in particular for its red wine. Geography Var is bounded on the north by the département of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (the Verdon river forming the boundary), on the east by that of the Alpes-Maritimes, on the south by the Mediterranean Sea, and on the west by the département of the Bouches-du-Rhône. Its area is 5,973 km², its greatest length is about 62 miles, and its greatest breadth about 56 miles. The Var is a diverse region encompassing mountains, beautiful ocean, plains, and valleys. In the north, the famous "Canyon du Verdon" is a wonderful place for hikers, kayakers, and nature lovers. Agriculture The area dedicated to agriculture is 800 km². This is 13% of the total area of the département. 38,000 people depend on agriculture, directly or indirectly, for their livelihoods. Sales of agricultural products run at 610 million euros a year, of which 45% is sales of wines and 42% of horticultural products. Vines and viticultural related activities account for 345 square kilometres of farmland. The 450 domaines / cooperatives and the 4 AOCs(appelation d'origine controlleé) produce 150 million litres (3.3 m UK gallons) of wine a year. The département has 10 square kilometres of horticultural land (of which 4 km² are covered). The Var is France's largest grower of cut flowers, producing some 500 million stems a year. Livestock farming is mainly sheep (50,000 animals) and goats (4,200 animals). Other important agricultural products include olives (42 km², a quarter of all French olive groves, and some 40 mills), figs - the Var produces 80% of France's figs, and honey (800 tonnes a year). There are also 9 km² of market gardens. See also | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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