SALZBURG, a crownland of Austria, formerly the duchy of Salz burg, is bounded W. by the Tyrol and Bavaria; by Bavaria and the crownlaed of Upper Austria; E. by the same crownland and Styria; and S. by Illyria. The area is 2639 square mils; and the population in 1850 was 146 007. It is a mountainous country, covered by the Norio Alps, which on its southern frontier branch out from the Rhaetian Alps. High mountains screen the valley of the Salzach for the greater part of its length, and numerous lateral valleys open into it, divided from each other by branches of the principal chains, and traversed by rapid torrents,. The principal valley, one of the most lovely that has been formed by nature, and adorned by the industry of man, begins in the western corner of the country, runs first to the east, then to the north, and is inclosed on the right side, along the southern frontier by lofty mountains, the continuation of the central Alpioe•chain, which passing throtup the Tyrol, to the eastern frontier of Salzburg, forms an almost uninterrupted chain of glaciers, here called Kee., with all the varieties of Swiss scenery, defiles, avalanches cascade., lakes, &a. Some of those mountains are covered with petual snow. The chain of calcareous rocks which accompanies the central Alps to the north forms the frontier on the other sides, and its highest points are 8382 feet above the level of the sea. The country is open to the north only where the Salzach issues from the moun tains, and forms a fruitful plain, which however is marshy in some parts. The Salzach, the principal river, is a feeder of the Inn. The lakes are numerous ; that called the Zellersee is ten miles long and above two miles broad. Of the many mineral waters, the hot springs of Gastein are the most celebrated. The cascade of the Krimmler Ache, about 5 miles above the village of Wald in the south-western angle of the province, is the most striking in Austria; the torrent falls in five breaks from the height of above two thousand feet, forming at last a magnificent arch. There are other very fine cascades. The climate is severe. Even in the neighbourhood of the city of Salzburg the hills, which are much lower than those of the south, are covered with snow by the end of September, though it does not lie perma nently till November. In the south the winter lasts, with little inter
mission, from the beginning of November till April, and storms and frosts do not cease till the end of June. The heat in summer is very great in the valleys, and vegetation is rapid. Most of the valleys are very fruitful, and produce cora, flax, and fruit, which thrives even at the foot of the mountains. The middle moun tain region is covered with forests of fir, larch, and pine, and the upper with fine Alpine pastures, which afford subsistence to numerous herds of cattle, and to a breed of remarkably strong and large horses. There are chamois goats, marmots, bustards, and heath-cocks. The corn produced is in general of excellent quality, but not sufficient for the home consumption. The products of the mineral kingdom are gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, cobalt, arsenic, rock crystal, marble, saltpetre, salt, sulphur, asbestos, and serpentine. The once cele brated mine. of gold and silver now yield little ; those of copper, iron, lead, and arsenic are very productive, and the salt-works and marble quarries are very important. The country people make their own clothing. The inhabitants are a robust race.
In ancient times Salzburg was inhabited by the Colts, who, as dwellers on the Tsuern (which is the name they still give in their language to the mountain.), were called by the Romans Taurisci. Salzburg was in the province of Noricum, the capital of the proviuce. Hadrian planted a colony in Juvavium, or Juvavia, the old capital of Noricum, which occupied the site on which the city of Salzburg now 'nautili. The decline of the Roman power led to the ruin of Juvavia, which was plundered and destroyed by the Ileruli. The country was nearly a desert when the pions Scotchman, Ilrodbert (ltuprecht or Rupert), arrived them towards the end of the 7th century, and con verted the natives to Christianity. A monastery and church were built for him in Salzburg, and richly endowed. Arno, the seventh successor of St. Rupert, was raised in 798, by Pope Leo III., to the archiepiscopal dignity.