721 



AUSTRIA. 



AUSTRIA. 



722 



tains in Western Transsylvania, and flowing westward through the 

 plain of Debreczin and Grosswardein, unite in one channel a little 

 below Bekes, the capital of the circle of Bekesh in Eastern Hungary : 

 the united stream joins the Theiss opposite to Czongrad. The whole 

 length of the Koroesz united stream has been computed at 280 miles. 

 The Marosch, or Maros, rises in Mount Dethegy, south-east of Sz Miklos, 

 near the eastern borders of Transsylvauia, has a tortuous course 

 through the heart of that principality, passing near Neumark and 

 Karlsburg, and quits it in the south-west : it thence flows westerly 

 through the great Hungarian plain, passes the towns of Arad and 

 Mako, and falls into the Theiss after a course, according to Lichten- 

 stern and others, of more than 500 miles, at Szegedin. This river 

 abounds in fish, and gold is found in its bed. The Bega, to which 

 the name of Ka^g is given in its lower course, has its source near 

 Gyular, on the Hungarian side of the south-west borders of Transsyl- 

 vania, and following a south-westerly line through the plains of 

 Temeswar, throws itgelf into the Danube near Szarduk, about 18 

 miles north of Semlin, in the midst of extensive morasses. 



13. The Temeih, or Temes, is another considerable tributary 

 to the Danube, for its whole length is not less than 270 miles ; this 

 river flows from Mount Satnenik, one of the Transsylvanian Alps, 

 situated in the Hungarian Banat (now the north-eastern part of the 

 Military Frontiers), winds tortuously through the plains, swamps, 

 and woods of South-Eastern Hungary and the Military Frontiers, and 

 has its influx near Pantsova, 8 or 9 miles east of Belgrade. 



14. The Alula (Alt, or Olt) rises in Mount Locawas, in Eastern 

 Transsylvania, runs south to Illyesalva, thence northward to Hopecz, 

 and thence south-westward in the direction of Hermannstadt ; from 

 which point it descends to the south, breaks through the pass of 

 Rothenthurm, nearly in the centre of the southern confines of Trans- 

 sylvania, into the plains of Wallachia, and empties itself into the 

 Danube opposite to Nicopolis. Within the borders of Transsylvania 

 it is joined by the Fekete, Hormorod, and close upon the pass of 

 Rothenthurm, the Czsibin, on which Hermannstadt U built. [AtCTA.] 



15. The Pruth, whose source lies in the Ozorna Mountains of the 

 Carpathian chain, within the limits of the circle of Marmaros in 

 Hungary, flows in a deep valley through southern Galicia past 



" Koloma to Tshernovitz, and traverses the Galician frontier, from 

 which it forms the boundary between Russia and Moldavia, until it 

 turns to the south-east and falls into the Danube near Reni, below 

 Oalatsh. 



16. The Sereth, which riaes from the northerly branch of the 

 Szesul Mountain, north-west of the town of that name in the Bucko- 

 wine, only so far appertains to the Austrian dominions that it winds 

 round the northern part of that province, and quits it just above the 

 town of Sereth to pass into Moldavia, through which it flows until it 

 reaches the Danube at Fodeni. to the westward of Galatsh. 



The Dniater does not rise within the Austrian borders. This 

 impetuous river has its source in lake Miedoborczek, on the north- 

 eastern aide of the Carpathian Forest Mountains, and in the circle of 

 Sambor in Galicia. It thence runs in a south-easterly direction along 

 the western borders of the Galician Plains, winding more to the east 

 as it approaches Zalesczyk, below which, and until it draws near to 

 Choczym, it forms the boundary-line between Galicia and Bessarabia. 

 The Dneister traverses or bounds the former kingdom for a length 

 of about 190 miles, but is difficult of navigation from the rocks and 

 shallows with which it abounds. The Dneister has various subsidiary 

 streams in Galicia. 



Parts of the northern dominions of Austria are likewise connected 

 with the Baltic through the Viitula and Oder. The former of these 

 rivers originates in the confluence of the White, Black, and Lesser 

 Vistulas three rivulets which descend from the sides of three moun- 

 tains of the Beskide range, in the south-eastern part of the duchy of 

 Teachen in Austrian Silesia, and unite at Vistula, a village at the foot 

 of Mount Tankow. After flowing to the northern boundary of that 

 circle, it turns westward and separates Austrian from Prussian Silesia, 

 until it reaches the confines of Galicia ; from this point it pursues a 

 course gradually inclining more and more to the north as it describes 

 the frontier-line between Galicia, Prussian Silesia, nnd the kingdom 

 of Poland ; and it quits the Austrian borders below Zawhicost, having 

 previously paused between Cracow and Padgorze. So early in its 

 course does the Vistula assume a majestic character, that even above 

 Skotshau it attains a breadth of 1700 feet and upwards, which 

 increases to a still greater breadth before it leaves the duchy of 

 Teschen, whilst it becomes fit for navigation at Cracow. The length 

 of its course through Galicia, and along its frontier, is about 195 miles. 

 IU numerous tributaries form the most important streams in the 

 kingdom of Galicia. 



The Oder is not connected with any other portion of the Austrian 

 territory but the northern margraviate of Moravia and Silesia. Ito 

 sources lie near the village of Haslich, about 14 miles east of Olmiitz; 

 from thin spot it runs in an easterly direction between wooded accli- 

 vities to Oderau in Silesia ; hence it soon turns to the north, and 

 meets the Prussian frontier north of Ostrau, where, after receiving 

 the Oppa, which flows along the Austrian-Sileaian border west of that 

 town, it continues that line of border until the Elsa (or Oelsa) has 

 d(cided into it from the southern extremity of the duchy of 

 Teschen, the capital of which is situated on its banks. It now passes 



OEOO. DIV. VOL. I. 



at once into Prussian Silesia, after a course in the Austrian dominions 

 of about 50 miles. 



A part of this empire is likewise comprehended within the limits 

 of the river system of the Korth Sea, by the Elbe, which commences 

 its upper course from the junction of a multitude of brooks, all 

 issuing from the western foot of the Snow-cap on the north-eastern 

 frontier of Bohemia, in the Giant Mountains of the Sudetsch range, 

 and at an elevation of 4151 feet above the sea. It leaves the moun- 

 tains at Hohenelbe, descends southerly to Kb'nigingratz in Eastern 

 Bohemia, then winds round by the south, and flows westerly till it 

 reaches Brandeis, 14 miles north-east of Prague ; from this town it 

 pursues its course through the northern districts of Bohemia to 

 Leitmeritz, and thence to the village of Herrnkretecham, where it 

 crosses into Saxony through the opening of a deep romantic vale, 

 after flowing for a distance of about 160 miles through the Bohemian 

 territory. It has been ascertained that the surface of the Elbe, which 

 has an elevation of 618 feet t Kbnigingratz, declines to 426 feet at 

 Melnick, about 15 miles north-west of Brandeis, and to 320 feet at 

 Schandau, in the Saxon circle of Meissen. This river does not 

 become navigable until it has received an accession of waters from 

 the Moldau, the most considerable of its collateral branches in 

 Bohemia. The Moldau issues from the Black Mountain, one of the 

 Bohemian forest range in the south-east of Bohemia, becomes navi- 

 gable at Budweis, flows through the heart of Bohemia to Prague, and 

 after a course 6f more than 220 miles falls into the Elbe a short 

 distance to the south of Melnick. 



The Jihine, another great branch of the river system of the North 

 Sea, forms part of the western boundary between the Voralberg and 

 Switzerland, and falls into Lake Constanz at Bregenz, after it has in 

 the former received the 111, which flows into the Rhine at Feldkirchen. 



In the river system of the Mediterranean are comprehended the 

 streams which discharge themselves into the Adriatic. The Po is the 

 only large Austrian river whose outlet is in the Austrian dominions. 

 It first touches Lombardy between Casale and Pavia, where it receives 

 the Ticino, and bearing its slow and turbid current eastward, with 

 a slight inclination to the south, for about 190 miles, separates 

 Lombardy and Venice from the principalities of Modena and Parma 

 and the States of the Church, until it falls into the Adriatic ; the 

 only exception to this remark is the territory of Mantua, which 

 lies upon its right bank between Luzzara and Stellata, and renders 

 the Po a purely Austrian stream for a distance of 50 miles, after 

 which it forms the frontier between the Papal and Venetian territo- 

 ries. Its surface throughout nearly the whole of this course is at a 

 greater elevation than the land through which it flows ; and the 

 embankments which wall in its waters, are insufficient to prevent its 

 volume, overcharged by its Alpine tributaries, from bursting over 

 them in the spring and autumn, and creating those numerous swamps 

 and marshes which line it at various points, and extend more par- 

 ticularly over the territory in the vicinity of its four Adriatic outlets. 

 [Po.] The largest of its subsidiary streams bound or traverse 

 Lombardy, and have their influx on its northern banks. The most 

 important of them are the Ticino (or Tessino), which enters Lom- 

 bardy from the Lago Maggiore at Sesto Calende, marks the wester'y 

 line of frontier next to Piedmont for about 70 miles, throughout 

 which it is navigable, and falls into the Po with a somewhat rapid 

 descent not far from Belvedere, about 4 miles below Pavia ; the 

 Olona, which rises among the Alps near Vedano, in the Austrian 

 territory, between lakes Lugano and Varese, flows through Legnano 

 and Milan in a south-easterly direction, and discharges itself below 

 Corte Olona, about 10 miles north-west of Placentia ; the Lambro, 

 which nrst makes its appearance on an eminence near Vassena, 

 between the two southerly extremities of the Lago di Como, directs 

 its course past Monza, east of Milan, and meets the Po at Coldo 

 Este, below Placentia; ;t communicates by a canal from Cassano 

 with the Adda, and by another from Milan with the Olona; the Adda, 

 a considerable river, abounding with fish, which after entering the 

 Lago di Como from the Valteline, quits it as a navigable stream at 

 its eastern extremity, and thence flows through Cassano and Lodi into 

 the Po below Pizzighettone, to the west of Cremona ; its waters are 

 increased by the Serio and some minor rivers; the Oglio, whose 

 source lies in the upper opening of the Val Camonica, in the most 

 northeVn districts of Lombardy, flows southward through Edolo into 

 Lake Iseo and then in a south-easterly direction, receiving the Mella 

 and Chiese in its course, and passing through Calcic, Pontevico, and 

 Ostiano, it falls into the Po below Gazzuolo ; and the Mincio (or 

 Menzo), which rune under the name of the Sarka from the Tyrol into 

 the Lago di Garda, between Riva and Arco, issues from it at Peschiera, 

 where it assumes the name of the Mincio, directs its course southward 

 to Mantua, expanding into the lake, at the eastern end of which that 

 fortress stands, and discharges itself into the Po near Governolo, to 

 the south-east of Mantua. 



The Adiye, or Etsch, is next in importance to the Po in the Italian 

 possessions of the house of Austria. The whole length of the Adige 

 is estimated at about 248 miles. The Passeger, Alpon, and Adigetto 

 also fall into this river. [ADIOE.] 



The other streams in this quarter of the Austrian dominions which 

 flow into the Adriatic, such as the Brenta, Piave, &c., will be noticed 

 in their proper places. 



8 A 



