VISTULA (Willa, Weichsel), a large river of Europe, rises at the foot of the Carpathians, in the circle of Teseheu io Austrian Silesia. Taking at first partly an eastern course, it enters Poland, passes Cracow, and then turning to the north-east divides Poland from Galicia as far as Sandomir. From Sandomir its course is north and north-west to Warsaw, then westerly and north-westerly till the river enters Prussia a little above Thorn, below which it flows northward to the Baltio. Before it reaches the Baltic however it divides at Montau, below Marienwerder, into two branches, the smaller of which, called the Nogat, discharges itself into the Frischea-Haff. The larger or western branch, after flowing about 40 miles farther, again divides at Farstenwerder, 9 miles from Dautzig, into two branches, the smaller of which turns to the east, and empties itself into the Fris ches-Haff, and the main stream taking the opposite direction falls into the Baltic at Weichselmtinde, north of Dautzig. The principal
feeder of the Vistula is the Bug which (fed by the Narow) joins it near Warsaw on the right hank. Another large feeder on the right bank is the Save. The most important tributary of the Vistula on the left bank is the Pilica. [PoLexn.] The whole course of the Vistula is about 460 miles, for above 300 miles of namely, from Cracow, it is navigable. The Bromberg Canal connects the Vistula with the Oder. The Vistula, beiug connected with so many navigable rivers, is a great channel for the conveyance of the pro ductions of Poland, especially corn and timber, from the interior to the sea-coast. At the junction of the. Bug with the Vistula stauds the important fortress of 3Iodlin : at Warsaw the river is commanded by Alexander's citadel.