HANOVER, formerly a kingdom of northern Germany, but since 1866 incorporated with Prussia. (The following description refers chiefly to the state of things before the union ; for more recent information, see Pnussta). Hanover extends from 51° 18' to 53° 52' n. lat., and from 6° 43' to 35' e. long. It may he divided into three distinct districts, viz: 1. The eastern, which consists of the duchy of Bremen cum Hadeln. a section of the duchy of Lanenberg, the duchy of Werdem the principalities of Liine burg, Kalenberg, and Hildesheim, and the countships of Hoya and Diepholz; 2. The western (separated from the former by the duchy of Aldenhurg)comprises the duchy of Aremberg-Meppen, the principalities of Osnabruck and East Friesland with the Har lingerlands, the lower countships of Linen and Bentheim, and the circle of Emsbfihren. which formerly belonged to the see of 'Munster; 3. The southern, which is separated from the other Hanoverian territories by Brunswick. and comprises the principalities of Grnhenhagen and GOttingen, together with the districts of Elbintrerode and Ilfeld. Hanover is bounded tt, by the German ocean and the river Elbe, c. by Mecklenburg and Prussian Saxony, s. chiefly by Westphalia and Hesse Cassel, and w. by Holland. The following table shows the divisions, or landrosteien, of Hanover, with their respective areas and populations: In 1858 the area was accordingly a little over 14,670 sq.m.; pop. 1,844,970. Area of the Prussian province of Hanover, 14,800 sq.m. ; pop. '75, 2,018,868.
Physical Character, etc.—The general physical character of Hanover is that of an extended plain with slight undulations, but in the s. the country is mountainous, embracing a considerable part of the Harz, together with the lesser heights of the Eichs feld, Soflinger, Stintel, Deister-Oster, and Hildesheime•-Wald. From the base of these hills to the sea-coast, the land is one vast plain, only interrupted at certain points by low ranges of hilly ground. The mountains, which abound in minerals, are covered with dense woods, and the valleys lying between them are fertile and well adapted to agriculture, but beyond these valleys the country is traversed from c, to w. by a sandy tract from 50 to 80 m. in width, known as the Luneburg heath, in which the inhabitants
with difficulty gain a scanty subsistence by rearing sheep and keeping bees. Great marshes or peat-moors cover the n. and n.w. districts, but these have in sonic parts been so successfully drained that they yield good pasture, although the soil generally is unproductive, comprising some of the poorest districts of Germany. The coasts are low, and require to be protected from the overflowing of the sea by embankments and dikes, the land being in many parts below the ordinary level of the sea. Along the banks of the rivers there are fertile districts, even in the n. of the country.
The principal rivers are, the Elbe, which forms 120 in. of the n.e. boundary-line; the Weser, on whose affluent the Leine, the capital of Hanover, is situated; the Alter, the Ems, and the Veehte, which all fall into the German ocean. There are numerous small lakes in Hanover. The principal canals are those between Lingen and ideppen, Aurich and Emden, and the Bremen canal, between the Hainme and the Swinge, which serves to drain the moors, and to transport the turf and peat which they yield.
Climate.—The climate is moist near the ocean, and fogs and heavy winds are frequent; in the s. it is dry and colder; and in some parts of the country marsh fevers ,prevail, although the general character of the climate in Hanover may be characterized as healthy. The mean annual temperature is 46'5; winter 28'7; and summer 6C5. Extremes are rare. The average annual fall of rain is 23 in.
Products.—The soil is generally of inferior quality, although it varies consider ably in different districts. Agriculture is in a very backward condition, and notwith standing some improvements which have been made of late years, large tracts of land, which are well adapted for cultivation, lie waste in every part of the country. The great subdivision of the land, and the consequent absence of capital, are the main causes of this imperfect mode of agriculture. The following proportions are given by 31areard for the distribution of the land in Hanover: Arable, meadow, and garden land, 5,833,000 morgen (the morgen is 0.6310 acre); forests, 2.242,000; waste lands, 6,514.000.