Aisne 83169 222444525 2008-06-29T11:12:13Z Delta 51 7238582 +pl fix {{coor title dm|49|30|N|3|30|E}} {{otheruses1|the French department}} {{Infobox_Department_of_France | department = Aisne | number = 02 | region = [[Picardie]] | prefecture = [[Laon]] | subprefectures = [[Château-Thierry]]<br>[[Saint-Quentin, Aisne|Saint-Quentin]]<br>[[Soissons]]<br>[[Vervins]] | population = 535,489 | pop_date = 1999 | pop_rank = 46th | density = 73 | area = 7369 | area_scale = 9 | arrond = 5 | cantons = 42 | communes = 816 | president = [[Yves Daudigny]] | pres_party = [[Socialist Party (France)|PS]] | img_coa = Blason département fr Aisne.svg }} '''Aisne''' ({{IPA2|ɛn}}) is a [[departments of France|department]] in the northern part of [[France]] named after the [[Aisne River]]. == History == Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the [[French Revolution]] on [[March 4]], [[1790]]. It was created from parts of the former provinces of [[Île-de-France (province)|Île-de-France]], [[Picardie]], and [[Champagne, France|Champagne]]. Most of the old-growth forests in the area were destroyed during battles in [[World War I]]. The French offensive against the [[Chemin des Dames]] in spring 1917 is sometimes referred to as the ''[[Second Battle of the Aisne]]''. == Geography == Aisne borders the [[Ardennes]] Forest and [[Belgium]] to the northeast. The Aisne River crosses the area from east to west, where it joins the [[Oise River]]. The landscape is dominated by masses of rock which often have steep flanks. These rocks appear all over the region, but the most impressive examples are at [[Laon]] and the [[Chemin des Dames]] ridge. The principal cities in Aisne are : *[[Laon]], pop. 26,000 (capital) *[[Saint-Quentin, Aisne|Saint-Quentin]], pop. 60,000 *[[Soissons]], pop. 30,000 *[[Château-Thierry]] *[[Tergnier]], pop. 15,000 See also: List of the [[communes of the Aisne department]]. ==Climate== There is an average of 500 to 750 mm precipitation annually. == Economy == Agriculture dominates the economy, especially cereal crops. [[Beet sugar]] is one of the most important industrial crops of the area. Silk, cotton, and wool weaving flourish in Saint-Quentin and other towns. [[Saint-Gobain]] is known for its production of mirrors, which started in the 17th century. [[Guise]] is the agricultural centre of the northern area of Aisne. == Culture == During [[World War I]] a number of significant architectural monuments were destroyed. Of the buildings that survived, the medieval churches in Laon, [[Braine]], and [[Urcel]] are the most significant. The ruined castle of [[La Ferté-Milon]] escaped further damage during the war. ==See also== *[[Cantons of the Aisne department]] *[[Communes of the Aisne department]] *[[Arrondissements of the Aisne department]] ==External links== {{commonscat|Aisne}} * {{fr icon}} [http://www.aisne.pref.gouv.fr/ Prefecture website] * {{fr icon}} [http://www.cg02.fr/ General Council website] * {{en icon}} [http://www.aisneco.com/pages/business/business.php Set up your business in Aisne] * {{en icon}} [http://www.aisne.cci.fr/pages/toutsavoirccia/map_saint_quentin.php Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Aisne] * {{fr icon}} [http://www.cm-aisne.fr/pages/index.php Chamber of Trades of Aisne] * {{fr icon}} [http://www.agri02.com/index.php Aisne Chamber of Agriculture] * {{en icon}} [http://www.aisne-developpement.com/gb/index.php Aisne Development Agency] * {{en icon}} [http://www.evasion-aisne.com/en/ Official Tourist Board] * {{fr icon}} [http://www.pays-aisne.org/pages/carte/index.php Maps of Aisne] {{Departments of France}} [[Category:1790 establishments]] [[Category:Aisne|*]] [[als:Aisne (Département)]] [[an:Aisne]] [[frp:Èsne (dèpartement)]] [[br:Aisne (departamant)]] [[ca:Aisne]] [[cv:Эна (департамент)]] [[ceb:Aisne]] [[cs:Aisne (departement)]] [[cy:Aisne]] [[da:Aisne (departement)]] [[de:Aisne (Département)]] [[es:Aisne]] [[eo:Aisne]] [[eu:Aisne]] [[fr:Aisne (département)]] [[gl:Aisne]] [[id:Aisne (departemen)]] [[it:Aisne]] [[jv:Aisne (Departemen ing Prancis)]] [[pam:Aisne]] [[lad:Aisne]] [[la:Axona (praefectura Franciae)]] [[lb:Departement Aisne]] [[lt:Esnas]] [[nl:Aisne (departement)]] [[ja:エーヌ県]] [[no:Aisne (departement)]] [[nn:Aisne]] [[oc:Aisne (departament)]] [[nds:Aisne]] [[pl:Aisne (departament)]] [[pt:Aisne (departamento)]] [[ro:Aisne]] [[ru:Эна (департамент)]] [[simple:Aisne]] [[sk:Aisne (departement)]] [[sl:Aisne (departma)]] [[sr:Ен (Пикардија)]] [[fi:Aisne]] [[sv:Aisne]] [[vi:Aisne]] [[tg:Департаменти Эна]] [[uk:Ена (департамент)]] [[vo:Aisne]] [[zh:埃纳省]]