RUSSIA. The Russian Empire extends over the north-eastern par of Europe, over the whole of Northern Asia, and the northevesten coast of North America. It consists of Iluwein-iu-Europe, properly a called, in which term Poland and Finland also are comprised ; th Caucasian Territories, which comprise the countries between the 131ael Sea and the Caspian ; Asiatic Russia, In which are included the fon government. of Tobalak, Tomsk, Joniseisk, and Irkutsk, and nom Cher districts of eastern and western Siberia; and some settlements n the north-west coast of North America. The area and population f the whole empire, according to official statements made in 1846, ro aa follows :— Baron Ilaxtbausen, in his recent work upon Russia, states the >copulation in 1852 to bo 69,660,146. In respect of religion about ;0,000,000 belong to the Greek Church, 7,000,000, chiefly Poles, are 3atholics, and about 3,000,000 are Protestauts; the rest are 3itehom nedans, Buddhists, cud heathens.
The present article, while in some points of view it relates to the vhole of the vast empire, comprises briefly the physical geography of European Russia only; under the heads of SIBERIA, GEORGIA, kLTAI MOUNTAINS, KAMTCIIATKA, AMUR, and V1IICAL, the surface of he rest of the empire 'is described; while under the names of the ;rent administrative divisions of the empire, the physical features, eroducts, towns, sta of all the provinces, are noticed in detail in the present work.
European Russia comprehends the north-eastern portion of Europe, extending from 43° to 71° N. let, 20° to 63° E. long. It is divided 'rom Asia by the Ural Mountains, which begin on the peninsula that ies opposite the island of Nova east of the Strait of Waigatz, end extend in a southern direction to 54° N. lat., where they divide nto three ranges. From this point, the river Ural, which rises eetwecn the two most eastern ranges, forms the boundary-line until I falls into tho Caspian Sea. From the mouth of the river Ural the boundary runs along the north-western shore of the Caspian Sea to the embouchure of the river Kuma. At this point begins the southern boundary-line, which runs along the course of that river to 45° E. long., and then nearly north to the river Manytch, whose course it follows to 30' E. long., whence it continues nearly due' west to the Sea of Azof, and chiefly along the course of the river Ieia. The
sovereignty of Russia has been acknowledged by most of the countries on each side of the Caucasus, between the Black Sea and the Caspian. as far south as the Kur and the Araxes [CAUCASUS, GEORGIA, &c.], and though the territories west of the Caucasus are cousidered to belong to Europe, yet they have not as yet been included in European Russia. The remainder of the southern boundary is formed by the Sea of Azof, the Strait of Yenikale, and the Black Sea. Near its western boundary Russia extends to the banks of the Danube, which forms the boundary between it end Turkey as far as the mouth of the river Pruth (near 28° E. long.). The Pruth divides Russia from Moldavia nearly to its source in the Carpathian Mountains; further north between Austrian Galicia, Silesia, and Prussia, there is no natural boundary. On reaching the Baltic the boundary-line of the empire towards the west runs round the Gulfs of Riga and Finland, and up the Gulf of Bothnia to its northern extremity (66° N. lat.). Farther north it touches Sweden and Norway. From Sweden Russia is partly separated by the lower course of the river Tornea, and farther north by its affluent the 3Iuonio. The boundary between Russia and Norway is partly formed by the watershed between the Gulf of Bothnia, and partly by the course of the river Tana. A small part of Norway extends east of the river Tana. On the north Russia is washed by the Arctic Ocean, which hero forms the extensive gulf called the White Sea.
Surface.—The whole surface of Russia may with propriety bo con sidered one extensive plain. If the Ural Mountains, which extend along its eastern border, and a mountain tract in the Crimea [Cntmea] be excepted, there is not in this immense extent of country an eminence which rises more than 500 feet above its base, or more them 1100 feet above the sea-level. The watershed which divides the rivers that flow to the Arctic Ocean, the Baltic, tho Black Sea, and the Caspian Sea, is not formed by mountains, but by tracts of elevated ground, the summits of which extend in wide and nearly level plains, and whose declivities form long and generally imperceptible slopes. The plains themselves are covered either with bogs and swamps or with forests, and in other parts they are dry and woodless tracts called steppes.