Lyon

(Eng. pron. li'unz; Fr. le'on(g.) [anc. Lugdunum,] a great manuf. city and commercial emporium of France, C. dept. Rhône, at the point of junction of the Rhône and Saône, 172 m. N.N.W.of Marseilles. It is replete with fine architectural features, and its quays, 28 in number, are among the finest in Europe. L. is strongly fortified, and from her peculiarly favorable geographical position has become the chief trading centre of the S. of France, and also of Switzerland. The leading manuf. is that of silks, velvets, ., which form an interest of vast importance, the products of these looms being celebrated the world over. L. dates from abt. 42 B. c. P. (1877) 342,815.-GULF OF LYON. A name given to the N. W. corner of the Mediterranean Sea, or, in other words, that portion which extends from the Catalonian shore as farE. as the Gulf of Genoa. [s. 563] IMG:p0608_0.jpg:Gravür