BAVARIA, a state in southern Germany and the second largest state of Germany, composed of two isolated por tions, the larger having Czecho-Slovakia on the E., the Republic of Austria on the E. and S., and Wiirttemberg, Baden, etc., on the W., while the smaller por tion, the Pfalz or Palatinate, is sep arated from the other by Wiirttemberg and Baden, and lies W. of the Rhine; total area, 30,562 square miles. Pop. about 7,000,000. After Munich, the cap ital, the chief towns are Nurnberg, Augs burg, Wiirzburg, Ludwigshafen, and Rat isbon (Regensburg).
Topography.—The main portion of the kingdom is in most parts hilly; in the S., where it belongs to the Alps, moun tainous; but N. of the Alps and S. of the Danube, which flows E., through the country from Ulm to Passau, there is a considerable plateau, averaging about 1,600 feet above the sea level. The S. frontier is formed by a branch of the Noric Alps, offsets from which project far into the plateau; principal peaks: the Zugspitze, 10,394 feet, and the Watz mann, 9,470 feet. The highest summits on the Bohemian (Austrian) frontier, be longing to the Bohmerwald Mountains, are the Rachel, 5,102 feet, and the Arber, 5,185 feet. Ranges of less elevation bor dering on or belonging to the country are the Fichtelgebirge in the N. E., the Frankenwald, Rhongebirge, and Spes sart in the N., and the Steigerwald and Franconian Jura in the middle. The Palatinate is traversed by the N. extrem ity of the Vosges Mountains, the highest peak being the Konigstuhl, 2,162 feet. The greater part of the country belongs to the basin of the Danube, which is nav igable, its tributaries on the S. being the Iller, Lech, Isar, and Inn; on the N., the Wornitz, Altmiihl, Nab, and Regen. The N. portion belongs to the basin of the Main, which receives the Regnitz and Saale, and is a tributary of the Rhine. The Palatinate has only small streams that flow into its boundary river, the Rhine. The chief lakes of Bavaria are all on the higher part of the S. plateau; the smaller within the range of the Alps.
The Ammer-See is about 10 miles long by 21/2 broad, 1,736 feet above the sea; the Wiirm-See or Starnberger-See, about 12 miles long by 3 broad, 1,899 feet; and Chiem-See, 9 miles long by 9 to 4 broad, 1,651 feet. The climate in general is temperate and healthful, though some what colder than the other south Ger man states; the yearly average tempera ture is about 47°.
Soil and Productions.—As regards soil Bavaria is one of the most fertile coun tries in Germany, producing the vari ous cereals in abundance, the best hops in Germany, fruit, wine, tobacco, etc., and having extensive forests. Lower Franconia (the Main valley) and the Palatinate are the great vine growing districts. The celebrated Steinwein and Leistenwein are the produce of the slopes of the Steinberg and Marienberg at Wiirzburg (on the Main). The forests of Bavaria, chiefly fir and pine, yield a large revenue; much timber being annu ally exported, together with potash, tar, turpentine, etc. The principal mineral products are salt, coal, and iron, sonic of the mining works belonging to the state.
The minerals worked include copper, quicksilver, manganese, cobalt, porcelain clay, alabaster, graphite. Large num bers of horses and cattle are reared, as also sheep and swine.
Manufactures.—The principal articles manufactured are linens, woolens, cot tons, leather, paper, glass, earthen and iron ware, jewelry, etc. The optical and mathematical instruments made are ex cellent. A most important branch of in dustry is the brewing of beer, for which there are upward of 7,000 establishments producing over 260,000,000 of gallons a year. Principal exports: corn, timber, wine, cattle, glass, hops, fruit, beer, wooden wares, etc. From its position Bavaria has a considerable transit trade. The Konig Ludwig- canal connects the Main at Bamberg with the Altmiihl a short distance above its embouchure in the Danube, thus establishing water com munication between the German Ocean and the Black Sea.