It owes its name to the Somme River, which flows through it.
Capital/préfecture: Amiens (known for its magnificent cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Other major cities: Abbeville, Albert, and Péronne.
Number of communes: approximately 770 (one of the departments with the most small communes in France).
The department is strongly agricultural (grain, potatoes, sugar beets) and has a coastline of approximately 60 km along the English Channel.
It is also known for its rich prehistoric finds (Acheulean, Abbevillian) and, above all, for the dramatic First World War: the Battle of the Somme (1916) was one of the bloodiest battles ever, with vast cemeteries, monuments (including Thiepval), and museums that still attract many visitors.
In short: a rural, water-rich department with a rich history (from prehistory to WWI), a beautiful Gothic cathedral in Amiens, and a quiet, sometimes melancholic atmosphere.
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