Ardèche is among the departments of France in south-central region of the country it is named after the Ardèche River. The inhabitants of the department are called Ardéchois. The area has been populated by individuals at least since the Upper Paleolithic, as attested by the eminent cave paintings at Chauvet Pont d'Arc. The department, subsequent to the ancient province of Vivarais, is part of the current region of Rhône-Alpes (Rôno-Arpes in Arpitan), of the administrative division of Languedoc and is surrounded by the French departments of Drôme, Vaucluse, Gard, Lozère, Haute-Loire, Loire and Isère. With its streams and brooks, Ardèche has become a favorite place for canoe and kayak enthusiasts from around the world. Ardèche contains a part of the Cévennes National Park