URAL, a river of Russia, which forms part of the boundary-lino between Europe and Asia. It rises in the Southern Ural, at the foot of Mount Kalyan, near 55' N. lat., at en elevation of 2132 feet above the sea-leveL It first runs south about 200 miles in a straight lino to the fortress of Orekaya, where it turns to tho west, in which direction it passes south of the town of Orenburg, and continues to flow about 300 miles in a straight line to the fortress of Umiak. Near this place it again turns to the south, and reaches in that direction the Caspian Sea after a course of 300 miles, measured in a straight line. The whole course of the river is about 900 mile'. The first 60 miles it runs in a narrow valley, between the Ural Tau on the west, and the Ilmenes Mountains on the east. At Verkh-Urask, where the level of the river is still about 1248 feet above the sea, it begins to be navigable for small boats. South of Verkh-Urask the Ural flows along the eastern base of the table-land of Sakmara, and on the east of it extend the steppes of the Kirghises. At Orskaja, where the river tarns westward, its level is about 550 feet above the sea. From this place it may be navigated by large barges, as it has DO raiskis and a considerable depth. Below Orskaja the Ural flows in a bottom from one to three utiles wide, which is inclosed by higher grounds rising from CO to 100 feet above it. These higher grounds
are the edges of the steppes. The bottom is chiefly covered with woods, but in parts there are extensive meadows. The greater part of this bottom is annually Inundated, and only a few tracts are culti vated. In Its middle course the Ural Is joined by the Sakmara north, and the Usk from the south. About 40 miles from its mouth the Ural divides into two channels, of which the eastern preversea the name of Ural, and the western is called Makroi 11acksat Lower down the Ural again divides into two channels, of which the western is called Ural, and the eastern Bukharka. The kW-mentioned channel is the moat convenient for vessels, and on its banks are the fortress and town of Ouriow. The islands forming the delta of the Ural are covered with and entirely for cultpration or pasture. The quantity of fish annually taken in the Ural is very great. The fish ascend the river to the fortress of Urask, course is stopped -by a weir. BeInga.s have been taken 1000 lbs., and yielding 200 lba. of caviar ; and stnrgeous weighing 200 lbs., and yielding 40 lbs. of caviar, have been taken the UraL Besides the caviar and isinglass, n great quantity of fish is sent to various parts of Russia. In summer the fish is salted, but in winter it is exported in a frozen state.