Arles (p. 50,513) is a city in the south of France. The Rhône river, which forks into two branches just upstream of Arles, forms the Camargue Delta. On February 21 1888, Vincent Van Gogh arrived in Arles. It was once a prosperous river trading post, but ever since the railway had been invented, it had become increasingly a backwater town. This is what made it attractive to Van Gogh. During his time in Arles, he completed 300 paintings and drawings. He loved the landscapes of the provence, and some of his most famous paintings were made in Arles. These include, Starry Night over the River Rhône, Yellow Room, and L'Arlésienne. Paul Gaugin visited Van Gogh is Arles. As his mental health deteriorated, his behavior became more and more alarming culminating when he severed his ear. The Arlesians circulated a petition demanding that Van Gogh be confined. He left in May 1889. Arles is in the center of a large agricultural area. There are important rice paddies and salt pans in the area. Parts of Arles have been World Heritage Sites since 1981. These include: The Alyscamps, The Roman Theatre, The Arena, and The Thermae of Constantine. The town also has a museum of ancient history, Le Musée de l'Arles et de la Provence antiques.