Aveyron

Aveyron
Department
Prefecture building of the Aveyron department, in Rodez
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Aveyron in France
Coordinates: 44°15′N 02°42′E / 44.250°N 2.700°E / 44.250; 2.700Coordinates: 44°15′N 02°42′E / 44.250°N 2.700°E / 44.250; 2.700
Country	France
Region	Occitanie
Prefecture	Rodez
Subprefectures	Millau Villefranche-de-Rouergue
Government
• President of the General Council	Jean-Claude Luche (UMP)
Area
• Total	8,735 km2 (3,373 sq mi)
Population (2013)
• Total	277,740
• Rank	78th
• Density	32/km2 (82/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Department number	12
Arrondissements	3
Cantons	23
Communes	286
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

Aveyron (French pronunciation: ​[avɛʁɔ̃]; Occitan: Avairon [avajˈɾu]) is a department located in the north of the Occitanie region of southern France named after the Aveyron River.

The inhabitants of the department are known as Aveyronnais or Aveyronnaises. The inhabitants of Rodez are called Ruthénois, based on the first Celtic settlers, the rutenii.

Aveyron is the centre of a triangle formed by the cities of Toulouse, Clermont-Ferrand, and Montpellier. The department approximately follows the outline of the former province of Rouergue. It is the 5th largest department in metropolitan France in terms of area (8,735 km² (3,373 sq mi)). Its prefecture is Rodez.

The department comes under the jurisdiction of the Academy of Toulouse and the Montpellier Court of Appeal. The INSEE and Post Code is 12.

Aveyron is located in the south of the Massif Central. The highest point in the department is the summit of Le Signal de Mailhebiau at 1469m on the Plateau of Aubrac. The Aveyron department is divided into several natural regions such as the Grand Causses and Rougiers.

Aveyron department consists of an ancient high rocky plateau of great geological diversity. The Truyère, Lot, Aveyron, and Tarn rivers have carved a lot of deep gorges.