SICILY, a large island in the Mediterranean Sea, which is separated by the narrow Strait of Messina, from the coast of Calabria. It is of triangular form, and obtained its ancient name Trinacria from its three principal promontories :—Lilybmum, now Capo Bee°, the most western point, which is about 90 miles distant from Cape Bon on the coast of Tunis; Pelorus, now Capo di Faro, tho north-eastern angle, which faces the rock of Scylla, 3 miles distant on the Calabrian coast; and Pachynus, now Cape Passer°, the south-east point, which is 60 miles from the island of Malta. The length of the northern and southern sides of the island, not including the windings of the coast, is about 175 miles each ; and that of the eastern side is about 115 miles. The area is 10,536 square miles according to the latest official returns, and the population at the census of 1851 amounted to 2,091,580. In the article SARDEONA, it is stated that the island of Sardinia is, according to some, greater, according to others, less than Sicily ; the true area of Sardinia is very nearly 9300 square miles, so that the island of Sicily exceeds it in area by about 1200 square miles.
A number of mountain-groups extend across the island from east to west, bearing various names ; the Mounts Pelorias, or Dinamari, between Melazzo and Taormina, which seem to he a coutinuation of the Apennines of Calabria; the Hemel Mentes, farther west ; the Nebrodee, now Monti Madonia, south of Cefalb and Termini, the highest summit of which, near the town of Polizzi, is said to be 6000 feet high ; the Crates, the ramifications of which extend to Palermo, and one of the highest summits of which is that of Calata mauro, near Corleone ; and, lastly, Mount San Giuliano, the ancient Eryx. These mountains are much nearer to the northern than to the southern coast, and tho longest water-courses are consequently on the south side of them. Toward tho centre of the island are the limestone mountains of Enna, now Ceetrogiovanni, about 3000 feet high, and Mount Artisino, which is still higher ; both of these are offsets of the Nebrodcs ridges : and farther south the lower groups of the mountains of formed of tertiary rocks, extending to Cape Passer° ; and the hills of Modica, the Hybln Minor of the ancients.
Few summits in Sicily, with the exception of "Etna, exceed 4000 feet in height. Towards the eastern coast rises the detached group of "Etna, which occupies an area nearly 90 miles in circumference : the highest summit of 'Etna is 10,617 feet above the sea. ['Erse.) At the southern base of rEtna lies the plain of Catania, the largest in the island. There are smaller plains along the southern coast, near Alicata, Terranova, Marsala, and at Melazzo on the northern coast ; but the larger part of the surface of the island consists of mountains and valleys. The northern coast is generally high, the mountains in many places coming close to the sea. Few of the rivers are perennial. Of these few the principal are, the Giaretta, or Simmthus, which flows eastward through the plain of Catania; the Fiume Salter, the ancient Himera, which flows southward, and enters the sea near Alicata ; and the Belice, or Hype, which flows into the sea near Solinunte, the site of the ruins of Selinus. Most of the rest are torrents, dry or nearly so in summer, but swelling into formidable floods in the rainy season.
Most of tho mountains have been in the course of ages stripped of their ancient forests, and they now present a naked and barren appearance. The sides of rEtnahowever are still covered with fine forests of oaks, beach, maple, birch, fir, and magnificent chestnut trees. A few other forests are scattered over the surface of the island, the principal being that of Carouia, near the northern coast ; that of Capellaro, south of Palermo ; the woods near Castelvetrano, on the southern coast ; and the forest of Giummia, west of Caltagii'one. The mineral productions of Sicily consist of copper and silver, which were once worked, but are now abandoned ; cinnabar, sulphur, which is found in great abundance, especially near San Cataldo, Galati, Butera, Bifara, Tavara, and Montegrande, and forms a considerable article of export from Alicata, Girgenti, and Palma.