SAXONY, one of the German Lander, ranking among the con stituent states of the German Reich fifth in area and third in population, bounded on the south by Czechoslovakia, on the west by Bavaria and Thuringia and on the west, north and east by Prussia. Its frontiers have a circuit of 76o m. and, with the exception of some small exclaves and enclaves, it forms a compact whole of a triangular shape, its base extending from north-east to south-west, and its apex pointing north-west. Its greatest length is 130 m.; greatest breadth 93 m., and total area 5,789 sq.m.
Physical Features.—Saxony belongs almost entirely to the central mountain region of Germany, only the districts along the north border and around Leipzig descending into the great north European plain. The chief mountain range is the Erzgebirge, stretching for 90 m. along the south border, and reaching in the Fichtelberg (3,979 ft. and 3,953 ft.) the highest elevation in the country. The west and south-west is occupied by ramifications and subsidiary groups of this range, such as the Central Saxon chain, and the Oschatz group. The south-east angle of Saxony is occupied by the mountains of Upper Lusatia (highest summit 2,600 ft.). North-west from this group, and along both banks of the Elbe, which divides it from the Erzgebirge, extends the picturesque Saxon Switzerland. The action of water and ice upon the soft sandstone of which the hills here are chiefly composed has produced deep gorges and isolated fantastic peaks, but the highest summit attains a height of only 1,830 ft.; the more interesting peaks, as the Lilienstein, Konigstein and the Bastei, are lower. Saxony lies almost wholly in the basin of the Elbe, which has a navigable course of 72 m. from south-east to north west. The Mulde, formed of two branches, is the second river of Saxony; others are the Black Elster, the White Elster, the Pleisse and the Spree, all part of the Elbe system. There are no lakes of any size. The best known of many mineral springs is at Bad Elster in the Vogtland.
Climate.—The climate is mildest in the valleys of the Elbe, Mulde and Pleisse and severest in the Erzgebirge. The average temperature varies from 48° to The Erzgebirge is the rain iest district, 271 to 331 in. falling yearly; the amount decreases as one proceeds northward, and Leipzig, with an average annual rainfall of 17 in., enjoys the driest climate.
Population.—In 1933 the population of Saxony was 5,196,436, or 858.8 per square mile. Except the free towns, Saxony is the most densely peopled member of the German Republic. The growth of the population since 1815, when Saxony received its present limits, has been as follows: (1815) 1,178,802; (1830) 1,402,066; (1840) 1,706,275; (1864) (1875) 2,760, 586; 3,787,688; (1905) 4,508,601. The preponderating industrial activity fosters the tendency of the population to con centrate in towns, and no German state, with the exception of the Hanseatic towns, has so large a proportion of urban population. The people of Saxony are chiefly of pure Teutonic stock; a pro portion are Germanized Slays, and to the south of Bautzen there is a large settlement of Wends, who retain their language.
The chief towns are Leipzig (pop. 1933, 712,475), Dresden (649,248), Chemnitz (350,657), Plauen (113,859), Zwickau (84, 675), Meissen (46,998), Bautzen (41,946), Zittau (39,713), Frei berg Freithal (36,809), Pirna Reichenbach (32,267), Glauchau (31,193), and Krimmitzschau (27,933). Other important towns are Meerane and Werdau.
Communications.—The roads in Saxony are numerous and good, and there are over 2,119 m. of railway. The only navigable river is the Elbe.
Agriculture.—Saxony is one of the most fertile parts of Germany, and is highly developed agriculturally. Fertility dimin ishes as we ascend towards the south, until on the bleak crest of the Erzgebirge cultivation ceases. In 1834 a law was passed providing for the union of the scattered lands belonging to each proprietor, and that may be considered the dawn of modern Saxon agriculture. The richest grain districts are near Meissen, Grimma, Bautzen, Dobeln and Pirna. The chief crop is rye, but oats are hardly second to it. Wheat and barley are grown in considerably less quantity. Very large quantities of potatoes are grown, especially in the Vogtland. Beet is also grown ex tensively. Flax is grown in the Erzgebirge and Lusatian mountains, where the manufacture of linen was at one time a flourishing domestic industry. Enormous quantities of cherries, plums and apples are annually borne by the trees round Leipzig, Dresden and Colditz. The Saxon vineyards, chiefly on the banks of the Elbe near Meissen and Dresden, have passed through difficult times of late years, owing to the ravages of the phylloxera.