Chareme-Inferiecre, a W. department of France, on the Atlantic coast, bordering on Vendee, Deux-Sevres, Charente, Dordogne, and Gironde; area, 2,635 sq. m.; pop. in 1872, 463,653. Besides being intersected by the Charente, it is watered on the N. frontier by the Sevre-Niortaise, and on the S. by the Gironde, which oiler great facilities to exterior commerce. There are several other navigable streams, and a canal connecting La Rochelle with Niort. The climate is agreeable; the surface is flat, and partly covered, especially in the neighborhood of the sea, with marshes yielding large quantities of salt. There are quarries of freestone; peat, and fine sand for the manufacture of glass, are also found. The soil is mostly calcareous or sandy, but yields large crops of grain and wine. Large quantities of brandy are exported. Cattle, horses, and sheep are raised in great numbers. Oysters are sent to Paris and London. Sardines form an important branch of trade, and vessels are fitted out for the cod fishery. La Rochelle, Rochefort, and the other ports have a considerable share of the colonial and coasting trade of France. There are manufactories of coarse woollen stuffs, soap, fine earthenware, and glass, with tanneries and sugar refineries. The islands of Oleron, Re, and Aix lie near the coast of this department.

It is divided into the arrondisse-ments of La Rochelle, Rochefort, Marennes, Saintes, Jonzac, and St. Jean d'Angely. Capital, La Rochelle.