Haute-Savoie

Haute-Savoie
Details
Information
Number	74
Region	Rhône-Alpes
Prefecture	Annecy
Subprefectures	Bonneville Saint-Julien-en-Genevois Thonon-les-Bains
Population  - Total (1999)  - Density	Ranked 33rd 631 679 144 /km²
Area	4,388 km²
Arrondissements	4
Cantons	34
Communes	294
President of the general council	Ernest Nycollin (UMP)
Location

Haute-Savoie is a French département, named "Upper Savoy" for its location in the Alps mountain range.

History

Haute-Savoie is 1 of the 2 départements of the region of Savoy that was annexed by France on March 24, 1860, the other being Savoie. For history before 1860, details of the annexation and reasons for the current separatist movement in the départements, see Savoy.

Geography

Mont Blanc and Lake Annecy are located in Haute-Savoie. To the North, Haute-Savoie borders on Switzerland, with Geneva as the closest major town, and Lake Geneva. The town of Évian-les-Bains is the most famous town on the French shore of Lake Geneva, well-known around the world for its mineral water Evian. To the East, Haute-Savoie has a common border with Italy.

Economy

Demographics

Culture

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 was held in Chamonix from January 25 to February 5, 1924.

External links