BERN, or BERNE, the most populous, and next to that of the Grisons, the most extensive canton of Switzerland; its area being nearly 2650 sq.sn. It lies between 'lat. 46' 20' and 47° 30' n., and Ion. 6' 50' and 8° 27' e, It has France on the n.; on the other three sides it is surrounded by its sister-cantons. B. is one of the three governing can tons of the Swiss confederation (since 1849 it has been the permanent seat of the Swiss government), and had, in 1877, a population of 532,632—about one fifth of the total inhabitants of Switzerland. Of these, 66,000 were Roman Catholics, the rest Protest ants. The fertile valleys of the Aar and the Emmen divide the mountainous Alpine region in the s. from the Jura mountains in the north. The valleys of Simmenthal, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwuld, and Hasli, in the s., called the liernexe Oberland, are cele brated for their beauty. The lakes of Thun, Brienz, Neuchatel, and Bienne, are in B., which is watered by the Aar and its several tributaries. The climate, from the great difference in the elevations of the territory, is necessarily very variable, and subject to sudden changes, and frequent rains and fogs, but it is generally healthy. The districts of the Aar and the Emmen arc the most fruitful, producing corn and fruits of various kinds, and affording excellent pasturage for cattle, which, with dairy produce, form the chief agricultural wealth of Bern. Corn and potatoes are not raised in sufficient quanti
ties for home consumption. The vine grows in some districts, and hemp and flax in small quantities arc raised. The horses of the Emmenthal are much prized. , The lakes abound with salmon and trout Iron, lead, and copper are found in the canton, which has also quarries of gypsum, marble. freestone, and granite. Its manufactures, which are not extensive, consist chiefly of linen, coarse woolens, leather, irou and copper wares, articles of wood, and watches. The canton is traversed by good roads, and its lakes and the river Aar are well supplied with steam-packets. The educational condition of the canton is good. B. entered the Swiss confederation, in which it now holds the second rank, in 1352. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it added to its possessions Aargau and Vaud, which it lost during the wars of the first Napoleon; but it. received in return Menne and its territory, and the greatest part of the bishopric of Basle. The present constitution of the canton, dating from 1816, is one of representative democracy.