is a
Department of southeastern
France .
Var was originally formed in 1790 during the
French Revolution from the subdivision of
Provence . Then, in 1860, the district of
Grasse , through which flowed the
Var River , was transferred to the newly formed
Alpes-Maritimes department. This is why the river, which gave its name to the department, does not flow through the department.
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The Var is also famous for its wine production - the town of Bandol (at the background of the photo) in particular for its red wine.
Var is bounded on the north by the department 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 department of the
Bouches-du-Rhône .
The Var is a diverse region covers 5,973 km&
2 that encompasses mountains, coast, plains, and valleys. In the north, the
Canyon Du Verdon is a popular place for hikers, kayakers, and nature lovers.
800 km&
2 or 13% of the total area is dedicated to agriculture, through which 38,000 people depend on for their livelihoods. The department also has 10 km&
2 of horticultural land (of which 4 km&
2 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). Vines and viticultural related activities account for 345 km&
2 of farmland. The 450 ''domaines'' / ''cooperatives'' and the 4 AOCs (''appellation d'origine controlleé'') produce 150 million litres (3.3 m UK gallons) of wine a year.
Other important agricultural products include olives (42 km&
2, 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 km&
2 of market gardens.
Agricultural profit is 610 million euros per year, of which 45% is sales of wines and 42% of horticultural products.
