CORSICA, an island in the Mediter ranean, forming the French department of the same name. It is separated from the island of Sardinia, on the S., by the Strait of Bonifacio, about 10 miles wide; length, N. to S., 110 miles; breadth, near its center, 53 miles; area, 3,367 square miles. The E. coast is almost unbroken, but on the W. coast a number of deep bays, St. Fiorenzo, Calvi, Porto, Liscia, Ajaccio, and Valinco, follow in rapid succession. The interior is traversed by a mountain chain, the culminating point of which is Monte Cinto, 8,891 feet high, Monte Rotondo coming next with 8,775 feet. From the E. and W. side of the chain numerous streams flow to opposite sides of the coast, generally mere tor rents. With the exception of some marshy districts on the E. coast, the climate is very fine. There are fine forests containing pines, oaks, beeches, chestnuts, and cork-trees, and the moun tain scenery is splendid. In the plains and numerous valleys the soil is general ly fertile; but agriculture is in a back ward state. Mules, goats, horses, cattle,
and sheep, and among wild animals, the boar, the fox, and the deer, are common. There are good fisheries. In minerals Corsica is not rich. The chief exports are wine, brandy, olive-oil, chestnuts, fruits, and fish. The chief towns, Ajac cio (pop. 19,000) and Bastia (pop. 30,000), are connected by railway. The island was first colonized by the Phoenicians, from whom it got the name of Cyrnos. The Romans afterward gave it that of Corsica. From the Romans it passed to the Goths, and from them to the Sara cens, and in the 15th century to the Genoese. France had the rights of the Genoese ceded to her, after Paoli had virtually made Corsica independent, and entered on forcible possession of it in 1768. An insurrection in 1794, headed by General Paoli and assisted by the British, for a time restored the island to independence; but in 1796 it again fell under the dominion of France. Pop. about 289,000.