BRANDENBURG, the central and largest province of the Land of Prussia, largely the former electorate of Brandenburg. It was merged in 1701 in the kingdom of Prussia and became one of the provinces of Prussia in 1815. It has an area of 15,074sq.m. ' (or 15,415sq.m., with the province of Berlin). Pop., without Ber lin (1933) 2,726,025. The province is a sandy plain interspersed with numerous fertile districts and stretches of pine and fir woods. It was formerly popularly known as the "sandbox of the Holy Roman Empire." It is, however, well watered by the Elbe and the Oder and tributaries, and is besides remarkable for its lakes, numbering between 600 and 700. The mineral products comprise lignite, limestone, gypsum, alum and potter's earth; barley and rye are the usual cereals ; fruits and vegetables are abundant; and hemp, flax, hops and tobacco are raised. Sheep breeding is important, and wool is exported. The climate is char acteristically "continental"—cold and raw in winter, excessively hot in summer. The most important industries are spinning and weaving (wool and cotton), paper-making and brandy distillation.