CARNIO'LA (Ger. Krain), a crown-land of the Austrian empire, formerly part of the kingdom of Illyria, has an area of 3,850 sq.m., with a pop. (1869) of 466,334, being a decrease of nearly 40,000 as compared with the census return of 1854. A continuation of the Carinthian Alps passes through it in the north, and the Julian Alps in the south. The scenery of the country abounds in interesting and singular features, amongst which one of the most notable is the rock-bridge of St. Kanzian, 130 ft. high, and 160 ft. broad, with a perfect arch 62 ft. high, and 154 ft. long. The Save is the principal river; the Kulpa is its chief tributary. The singular lake of Zirknitz (q.v.) is in Carniola. The climate of C. is in general mild, except in the high mountainous parts. The country does not produce corn or cattle enough to supply the wants of its inhabitants. Millet, pulse, and wild fruits are principal articles of food with many of the lower classes. Maize is cultivated in some places, and some districts yield excellent wines and much fine fruit.
Flax is largely cultivated; silk is produced in some places, and much honey and bees wax. The principal products of the mineral kingdom are iron, quicksilver, and marble; the quicksilver mines of Idria are the most important in Europe. Linen weaving, and the manufacture of a coarse lace, are common among the peasantry. Lay back is the capital.
C. received its present name after the settlement here of the Slavonic Wends. Charlemagne conquered it and gave it to the dukes of Friuli. From 972 it had mark graves of its own, sometimes called dukes, who possessed. however, only a part of the country. On the extinction of the male line of the markgraves, part of the territory passed to the dukes of Austria, in the 13th e., and the remainder was acquired by them in the 14th. The vast majority of the inhabitants are Slays of the Slovenian branch.