STYRIA, stlef-a, Austria, a province, for merly duchy; area, 8,662 square miles. It is traversed by three Alpine ranges, whose highest points reach in the Grimming at the northwest, and the Eisenhut at the southwest, an elevation of 7,400 and 7,646 feet respectively. The ranges are penetrated by many valleys of different extent., the only level land is at the southeast. Styria belongs wholly to the basin of the Danube, and is drained by the Enns, Mur, Drave and Save. The mountain lakes lie amid beautiful scenery. There is much barren land, and about 20 per cent of the total area is arable; vineyards flourish in certain districts. Fruits abound, and hemp, flax and the poppy are grown extensively. The forests and mines are the staples of wealth, and their products constitute the chief exports. The minerals comprise gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc and the finest quality of iron — besides sulphur, salt and alum. The iron manufactures are the most im portant, including scythes, swords, rails, sheet iron, wire, hardware, etc. Other manufactures are glass, tobacco, liquors, beer and paper. Pop. about 1,450,000. The population is about 98 per cent Roman Catholic. Graz, the capital,
has a population of 151,181. Other large cities are Marburg, Eggenberg and Leoben.
In Roman days Styria was divided between Pannonia and Horicum and was inhabited by the Taurisci, a Celtic people. In the various migrations that swept over Europe Styria was crossed by Visigoths, Huns, Ostrogoths, Lango bardi, Franks, Arars, Slays, etc. The Slays predominated after the 6th century A.D. It was included in the great duchy of Carimhea but was recognized as a separate mark in 1056. It became a duchy about 1192, when it passed to the house of Austria. In 1282 it passed to the Hapsburgs. Consult 'Die Oesterreichisch ungarische Monarchic in Wort and Bild' (Vol. VII, Vienna 1890) ; Gsell-Fels, Thomas, 'Die Steiermark' (Munich 1898): ImendOrfer, Benno, 'Landeskunde von Steiermark' (Vienna 1903) ; von Machar, Albert, 'Geschichte der Herzogtums Steiermark' (9 vols., Graz 1844 74) ; Rosegger, P. K., 'Das Volksleben in Steiermark' (Leipzig 1895); Mayer, F. M., 'Geschichte der Steiermark' (Graz 1898).