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| GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS |
| ECONOMY |
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For centuries the
economy of the Alpes de Haute-Provence was traditionally based
on pastoral agriculture, centred around sheep.
Each farming family had a small flock which provided meat and
wool. At the end of the spring, thousands of animals from Basse-Provence
would make their way to the high altitude pastures to spend
the summer: this was called transhumance.
A few fields of cereals, dry vegetables and fruit trees combined
with the forest's natural resources were sufficient for inhabitants
to make a living.
The villages were veritable little towns engaged in various
types of craft activity : weaving in the Ubaye and Haut-Verdon,
silk-worms in the South, tile-manufacture, paper-making, brewing
and hat-making. Following the major rural exodus in the 19th
century, the "département" lost a third of
its population in 100 years. Daily life was transformed. The
countryside itself was modified, with considerable reafforestation
at the beginning of the century, construction of artificial
dams and electricity plants on the Verdon and Durance rivers,
and building of roads including the A51 along the Durance valley.
But the Alpes de Haute-Provence area was virtually untouched
by the Industrial Revolution, and has therefore been able to
preserve the splendour of its natural heritage in all its beauty.
Agriculture is still indispensable. It is now modernised and
produces quality products that are often officially recognised
: lamb, cheeses, fruit, wine, etc. Industry is scarce ; there
are just two chemical plants. In parallel, a new generation
of industries using modern technologies has arrived in the area:
computing, printing, graphic activity, etc. |
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