Ardennes (redirected from Ardennes massif)

Ardennes, department, France

Ardennes (ärdĕn`), department (1990 pop. 295,700), NE France, in Champagne. The capital is Charleville-Mézières. Ardennes is also the name of a section of the eastern branch of an ancient mountain chain resulting from Hercynium folding between 345 million and 225 million years ago. The western edge of the chain is located in France, while the remainder extends into Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany.

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Ardennes, region, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France

Ardennes, wooded plateau, from 1,600 to 2,300 ft (488–701 m) high, in SE Belgium, N Luxembourg, and Ardennes dept., N France, E and S of the Meuse River. The plateau is cut into wild crags and ravines by rapid rivers. Agriculture and cattle raising are the main occupations of this sparsely populated region. Peat bogs are found in shallow depressions. In Germany, the Ardennes is continued by the Eifel. The chief cities (Liège, Namur) are in the Meuse valley. A traditional battleground, the Ardennes saw heavy fighting in both World Wars, notably in the Battle of the Bulge (Dec., 1944–Jan., 1945). Tourism in the area is economically important.

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Ardennes

 or Forest of Ardennes

Wooded plateau region, northwestern Europe. It covers over 3,860 sq mi (10,000 sq km) and includes parts of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Meuse River valley of France; its average height is about 1,600 ft (488 m). Though half of it is covered with forests, the soil is generally unfertile and supports only heath. It is located in the middle of the heavily populated triangle of Paris, Brussels, and Cologne. During World Wars I and II, the area was the scene of severe fighting in 1914, 1918, and 1944 (see Battle of the Bulge).