BUKOWINA, biWko-ve'nfi (`the country of beech-trees,' from Slay. bukii, Ger. Buch•, Eng. beech). A duchy of the Anstro-Hungarian mon ar•hy, included in Cisleithania, bounded by Galicia on the north and northwest, Hun gary on the west. Rumania on the south, and Rumania :Ind Russia on the east. Its area is 4035 square miles (Map: Hungary, J 3). Buko wina belongs mainly to the region pf the Car pathian Mountains, by which it is traversed in several parallel chains. It is watered chiefly by the Pruth and the Dniester, besides a few minor streams taking their rise in the province. The climate, although somewhat raw, is generally healthful. The soil is very productive, especially along the froth and Sereth. About 28 per cent. of the productive land is undentillage, while over 43 per cent. is under forests. The mininon Euro pean cereals and industrial plants are raised in abundance, and the extensive areas of pasture land render the country well adapted for cattle raising. The mineral production is of little im portance, and the manufacturing industries are largely confined to brewing and distilling. The commerce is little developed. although the prov Mee is well provided with transportation facili ties, both in the shape of roads and railways, as well as waterways. The Diet of Bukowina is composed of 31 members, of whom 10 represent the landed aristocracy, and 12 the rural corn nmnities, the remainder representing cities, chambers of commerce, etc. In the Lower Douse
of Austria, Bukowina is represented by 11 dele gates. including 2 elected by universal suffrage. Education is well advanced in Bukowina, which possesses, besides the university at Czernowitz, a number of gymnasia and other institutions for secondary education. The 379 elementary schools were attended in 1898 by about 73,000 children, or 76 per cent. of the total school population. According to the census of I90o, Bukowina had a population of 729.921. show ing an increase of 12.9 per cent. for the dec ade. About 70 per cent. of the people adhere to the Greek Orthodox faith. over 11 per cent. are Roman Catholics. and about 13 per cent. Jewish. In regard to nationality, 42 per cent. are Ruthe nian, over 32 per cent. Rumanian, and about 21 per cent. German. The capital is Czernowitz, with a population of 70,1100.
Bukowina was included in the ancient Roman Province of Dacia, and during the Middle Ages was settled by peoples of different stocks. About the beginning of the Fourteenth Century it came into the possession of Moldavia, and its principal town. Suczawa, was the seat of the Moldavian Dospodar. owns acquired by Aus tria in 1777, and made a erownland in 1849. Consult Kaindl, G•schichte drr Bukwrina (3 vols., Czernowitz, 1895-98) ; Bukweina (Vienna, 1899).