ORENBURG, eir'en-lir. A government of Russia partly in Europe and partly in Asia, and bounded by the Government of Perm on the north, Tobolsk and Turgai on the east, Uralsk on the south, and Samara and Via on the west (Map: Russia, .1 4). Area, about 73,900 square miles. It is mountainous in the centre and the north, being traversed by the Ural _Mountains (q.v.) and their offshoots. It slopes toward the west. south, and east. The eastern and southern parts have the diameter of a steppe. The region belongs mainly to the basins of the Ural and 'rol)]. Lakes are very numerous. and some of contain extensive deposits of salt.
The climate is healthful. hilt somewhat dry in the southeast. The average annual temperature 'at Orenburg. the capital, is 38.5° F. Orenburg is noted for its mineral deposits, which include gold, silver. copper, iron, platinum. and salt. Coal has also been discovered near lletsk in the south. Gold, copper, iron, and salt are obtained on a large scale, the first being found mainly in the eastern slopes of the Ural chain. The monn tainous region in the centre is well wooded. while
the eastern steppe is mostly barren. The natural conditions arc favorable for agriculture, hut the soil has been to some extent exhausted by the wasteful methods which usually characterize agriculture in new countries. About three-sev enths of the total area of the district belongs to the Orenburg Cossacks, the original Russian settlers of the region, who are still maintained on a military basis and are very prosperous.
Stock-raising is extensive, especially among the Bashkirs. Animals and animal products are among the leading exports. The Bashkirs are particularly known for their kumiss, which forms an essential item in their diet. _Manufacturing industries are as yet undeveloped. The best known products of the house industry are vari ous felt products. and the 'Orenburg shawls,' prepared from goats' wool and largely exported. There is an extensive trade carried on with the Kirghiz of the steppes. Population, in 1897, 1,609,388, only about 70 per cent. Russians. The remainder are Eashkirs and other Mohammedans.