SIBERIA, an extensive territory in Asia, which includes the whole of the northern frontiers of that quarter of the globe. As a part of the Russian em pire it has received the name of Asiatic Russia. Si beria is a flat track of country, declining gradually to the frozen ocean, by which it is surrounded on the north, rising gradually towards the south till it joins a ecat chain of mountains distinguished by the name of the Altai mountains, and the mountains of Sagansk and Yablonay, which separate Russia from indepen dent Tartary, and the territories subject to China. On the cast it is bounded by the Eastern Ocean, and on the west by the great chain of the Uralian moun tains, which divide it from Russia in Europe, and from the provinces of Orenbourg and Astrakan. Si beria extends from the 57th to the '51.11 degree of North Lat. and from the 60th to the 190th degree of East Longitude. It varies from 1200 to 2000 miles in breadth from north to south, and is about 4500 miles long from east to west.
Siberia is divided into three provinces, which form the 49th, 50th, and 51st, of the Russian Empire. These provinces have the following extent and popu lation.
of Messina. In consequence of its approximation to a triangular form, it was called Trinacria, or Trin quara, by the ancients. Its length from cast to west
is 180 miles; its greatest breadth about 130, and its extent, including the small islands upon its coast, is nearly 12,533 square miles.
Sicily was formerly divided into three parts: 1. The Val di Mazzara, or western part.
2. The Val di Demona, or north-eastern part; and 3. The Val di Noto, or southern part.
But since the year 1815, when the government of Murat was overthrown, it has been divided into seven intendancies, the population of which and of the prin cipal towns are as follows: In our article IRKUTSK, we have already given a full account of that province, which forms the whole of the eastern part of Siberia. And in our articles TOBOLSK and TOMSK, we shall describe the western part of this territory.
In our article Russik, will be found many interest ing detailsrof a general nature respecting the territory of Siberia. See also our articles ALEUTIAN Islands, ALTAI ASIA, IIIIERING'S Islands, KAMTS ClIATKA, KURILE islands. See also the works referred to under our article Russin.