Jura, << JOO ruh, >> is a mountain range that lies between the Rhine and Rhone rivers. It is crossed by the border between Switzerland and France. The Jura is about 160 miles (260 kilometers) long. The mountain range extends from the northeast to the southwest in parallel ridges of limestone. The highest peaks are less than 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) above sea level.
Forests once covered the Jura. Today, much of the upper slopes are still forested. Land on the middle and lower slopes of the range serves as pasture for the dairy industry, an important source of income in the region. Economic centers of the Jura include the towns of Pontarlier, France; and La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland—both noted for making clocks and watches. Tourism also is important to the region’s economy.
