TRANSYLVANIA, a country in Europe, and part of ancient Dacia, lies between 37' 32" and 33' 55" of North Lat. and 47/ 30" and 40° 26' 34" East Long. and contains 880 square miles,t includ ing the military cordon. Its Hungarian appellation Erdely, or its Latin synonyme Transylvania, inti mates its relative situation with respect to Hun gary, from which it is separated on the north and west by immense forests ; and its limits on the south and east are clearly defined by a chain of lofty mountains, which divide it from Wallachia and Moldavia. vrith these provinces it has no way of communication but by some narrow defiles, capable of an easy defence, the most celebrated of which is the pass of Roihenthurn or the Red Tower, near the village of I3oitza. The road through this pass was formed at considerable expense in 1717, by the or ders of the Emperor Charles VI., and in many places is cut out of the rock along the banks of the Alt. Dr. Clarke describes it as one of the most re markable passes in Europe, if not in the whole world; and might be rendered impregnable, simply by throwing down the shelves or artificial wooden roads which, in many parts of it, hang from the sides of the rock, and offer the only means of access.
This country may be divided according to the situations of the three principal nations which are represented in the Transylvanian diet. The Hun-.
garians possess the northern and western parts; the country of the Seklers extends along the eastern frontiers; and the lands in the south belong to the Saxons. The Wallachians, though the most nu merous, have no particular territory assigned to them; but they prevail in the central and eastern districts. The subdivisions are enumerated in the following table.
Transylvania presents a very unequal surface ; and besides the mountains which form its frontier, there are a great number in the interior of a con siderable height, and covered with wood. The prin cipal of these on the north are parts of the great Carpathian chain, which runs from the Black Sea as far as Silesia, and those on the south are, for the most part, fertile hills, producing vines and grain, equally with the plains. Among the highest on the .frontiers are, the Surul, whose summit is
1078 toises above the level of the Alt, which waters its base, and the Budislaw, which is 70 toises higher.
Of the immense forests, which formerly covered Transylvania, the most considerable that now re main are those of Ricka, Hargit, Paraide, Miko ane, and Zeidne.
The numerous rivers, which water this province, have their origin within its own territory: and all contribute to increase the waters of the Danube. Of these the chief are the Maros, the Szamos, greater and less, and the Mt or .121uta.
The lakes in this country are not confined to the plains, but are found on the heights of the moun tains. The principal are, the lake of Hadosh or Tochege, the lake of St. and the lake of Pi ritsch.
The climate of Transylvania is very variable, and depends greatly upon the direction of the winds, and the cultivation of the country. The changes of temperature are sudden and extreme, and are caused by the frequent storms which ravage this country with great fury, and which are followed' by excessive cold. Chilly winds generally prevail in spring and autumn, and are known by particu lar names, as the wind of Rothenthurn, in the coun try about Harmanstadt; the Nenenewind in Harans zek, and the wind of Thordahaschadek in the dis trict of Aranyosch. In the eastern and more ele vated tracts, the climate is moist, cold and little favourable to the cultivation of grain. During summer the coldest nights are succeeded by scorching heat, and in winter the cold is almost insupportable.
The soil of this country in the plains is, in gen eral, fertile, and produces in great plenty all the ne cessaries of life. Its mineral riches also are abundant; and besides the precious metals and the more com mon minerals of marble, slate, lime, granite, chalk, &c. diamonds are found at Haromszek: topazes, chrysolites, emeralds, and amethists, on the moun tains of .S'elis and Porkuna; and agates, opals, cal cedonies, and cornelians, in the plains and in the rivers. Mineral waters are more common here than in any other country in Europe, some of which are saline, many metallic, and others pro duce incrustations and stalactites.