﻿1068 



NOVARA. 



NOVO MORKOFSK. 



lOU 



■md 20 tuiloe bnuul), Ijring aouth of Ka» Strait, Vid separated from 

 tbfl ooDtinent of Riuua dt Yugonky Shu-, or Pett'a Strait, form a 

 part of the aeries of ialaods called Nova Zembia ; and the whole may 

 be oofuidered a* the prolongation of the Ural MountainR, the aoande 

 mentioned merely fillmg up depreaiions in the chain. 



The weetem aide of the island is moimtatnous, rising from a steep 

 and bold shore to the height of 1000 and 2000 feet It is also indented 

 with numerous bays formed by bold and lofty headlands which project 

 from the mountains. A moimtain east of Nameless Bay in NoTa 

 Zembia proper is 1842 feet high. A little farther north approaching 

 the entrance to MatotahUnShar is another peak 2547 feet high. 

 Along the strait itself the mountains on the north side rise in three 

 places to 8204 and S1S6 feet high, and on the southern side there is a 

 prak 8475 fe^t aboTe the sea-lereL All along Lutke's Land and 

 Barents Land the mountains run close along the shores. The 

 mountains of NoTa Zembia are chiefly composed of a very black clay- 

 »Ute in the more southern portion ; near the Kostin Shar on the south- 

 west coast of Nora Zembia proper gray primitive limestone prevails, 

 similar to that found in the Ural Chain. The eastern shores are 

 comparatively level and barren. Though the heat in summer is very 

 great, owing to the loug continuance of the sun above the horizon (four 

 months and a half at the northern extremity), the soil thaws only 

 to the depth of between 6 inches and 2.) feet, and at that distance from 

 the surface groundico is always found. The vegetation, which covers 

 some parts of the surface, consists only of lichens and mosses. White 

 bears, foxes, walrusses or moises, and seals abound, as well as rein- 

 deer and water^fowL The islands are frequently visited by fishermen 

 from Archangel and other place') in order to take the walrus. Nova 

 Zembia first became known by tbc voyage of Steven Burrough (1556), 

 bnt had previously been visited by the Russians. The Dutchman, 

 William Barents, in 1596 sailed all ^ong the west coast, doubled Cape 

 Desire, the most eastern part of Barentc Land, and wintered from 

 August 26, 1596, to June 14, 1597 in Icy Haven, on the eastern shore 

 of the island. The Russian government in recent times has sent 

 several expeditions to explore the islands. The western coast was 

 explored and laid down by a Russian officer. Lieutenant Lutkd. All 

 the east coast of the southern island was explored by rachtussoff in 

 1832-3. The Hatotahkin Shar and the east coast between 73^° and 

 75° N. lat was examined by PachtussoCT and Ziwolka in 1834-5. 

 About 100 miles of the eastern coast remain still to be explored : 

 this part, like all other parts of Nova Zembia, is often visited by whale 

 and walriis hunters. The sea west of Nova Zembia is said to be open 

 for four or five months in the year on an average ; but the Kara Sea 

 is almost always encumbered with fields and masses of ice. 



(Barrow, C^ronolofficcU Hittory of Voyaget into the Arctic Regioni ; 

 lAmdon Qtoffrapkical Journal, vols, viil and xxiit) 



NOVARA, a division of the Sardinian states containing several 

 provinces, is bounded E. by the Ticino and the Lago-Maggiore, which 

 separate it from Lombnrdy, S. by the Po, W. by the provinces of 

 Torino and Aosta, and N. by the I^pontian Alps and Switzerland. 

 The portion of the division extending eastward from the spur of 

 Honte-Rosa to the Swiss frontier, and including the Val-d'Oasola or 

 upper part of the main valley of the Tosa, and varioiu lateral valleys 

 whieh open into it, forms the province of Ossola. This province is 

 covered by the main ridge of the Alps which inclose the volley of the 

 Tocda, or Tosa, which assumes different names at difierent points of 

 its length. The southern part of the basin of the Tosa, and a fine 

 strip of land between the lakes of Orta and Uaggiore, form the 

 province of Pallanza. Into the valley of the Tosa numerous lateral 

 valleys open, each adding its tributary stream to the Toccia, to be by 

 it conveyed into the Lago-Uaggiore. The largest of these lateral 

 valleys is the Val Maeugnaga watered by the Ansa, which flows east- 

 ward into the Toocia from Monte-Roso. The Simplon road across the 

 Alps enten Italyby that part of the valley of the Toccia called the 

 Val-d'OasoU. The provinces of PaUanza and Ossola produce but 

 little com ; the high valleys and lower slopes of the mountains aSbrd 

 pasture for great numbers of horned-cattle and numerous flocks of 

 •heep and goats. In favourable situations and in the lower valleys 

 the grape flourishes. Chestnuts and filberts are abundant Some 

 iron- and oopper-mines are worked. The inhabitants are poor, and 

 some of them annually emigrate to the neighbouring countries chiefly 

 •B stone-mssons. 



The province of Novara extends southward from that of Pallanza 

 to a line running nearly east from the Sesia above Vercelli to the 

 Ticioo. It is hiUy in the north about the Lake of OrU ; but the 

 central and southern portions are level, forming part of the great 

 pWa of the Po. The soil is rich and very productive in corn, rice, 

 Map, naiM, pulse, and silk. Pasture is good, especially in the north. 

 Pl^ and poultry are very abundant The pretty lake of Orta, which 

 is partly in the province of Novara, is 10 miles long from north to 

 south, and little more than one mile in breadth. Its southern 

 extremity is about 20 miles north of the town of Novara. Its outlet 

 is at the northern end, from which tlie waters flow into the Lago- 

 Xsntore, which is 7 miles distant to the cast The banks of the Loke 

 of OrU are hilly and pleasant, and covered with villages, hamleU, 

 and handsome cotmtry-houses. In the middle of the lake is the little 

 islsnd of San-Qiulio, with a very handsome church, a palace belonging 

 to the Bishop of Novara, and some other buil'liogs and gardens. 



This island was once fortified, and is mentioned in the wars of the 

 middle ages. The chief rivers are the Sesia and the Tiuino, between 

 which the province lies ; the central part of the plain is drained by 

 the Agogna and the Terdopio, which in their lower courses traverse 

 the Lomellina, and ulttmately enter the Po from the left bank. 

 Numerous canals for irrigating the rice-grounds are derived from 

 these rivers. 



The LomtUina, or province of Mortara, lies south of the province 

 of Novara, between the province of Valsesia, the Ticino, and the Po. 

 The Ticino is navigable from the Lago-Maggiore to its entrance into 

 the Po. The other streams are the Terdopio and the Agogna, which 

 traverse it from north to south. The country is level ; the productions 

 similar to those of the preceding province. 



The province of YaUctia forms the most western part of tlie 

 division, and comprises the upper part of the basin of the Sesia to 

 its junction with the Cervo. It is drained by the Sesia and partially 

 by the Dora-Baltea, which is joined to the Sesia by a canal that runs 

 by the town of Santbia. The Valsesia towards its northern part is 

 covered by ramifications of the Alps. Except in the valleys, the 

 climate, like that of Pallanza, is cold. Some rye, millet, a little 

 maize, and chestnuts are the chief productions. In favourable situa- 

 tions however the vine and the mulberry arc cultivated. The chief 

 wealth of the country consists in its cattle, butter, and cheese. In 

 the southern part the surface is mostly flat, productive in rice, wheat, 

 maize, oats, hemp, wine, and silk. The rice-grounds, which are laid 

 under water until the rice is ripe in September, both here and all 

 through the valley of the Po, are very unhealthy ; but the undulating 

 and highlands to the northward are exceedingly salubrious, and the 

 aspect of the country extremely varied and picturesque. 



The area and population of the provinces of the division of Novara 

 are as follows : — 



Frovbiccs, 



Area in Square Miles. 



PopaUUon to 1S4S. 



Novara .... 



Lomcllina . . . 



Pallanza 



Osaola . , . . 



Valacsia 



SSS 

 480 

 SIS 

 510 

 100' 



i;s,o6o 



1.19,810 

 C4,030 

 3G,33l 

 35,879 



Total . 



2,1SS 



4SI,9S» 



Toumt. — The province of Novara is named from its chief town 

 Novara, an old, irregularly built, but strongly fortified town, which 

 is situated 50 miles N.E. from Turin, and 10 miles from the left bank 

 of the Ticino, on the high road from Milan to Turin, and.has a popu- 

 lation of almut 20,000. It gives title to a bishop, and has an eccle- 

 siastical collie, a gymnasium, two hospitals, a public library, and a 

 considerable trade in silk aud agricultural produce. Some of the 

 churches, convents, and the palaces of the nobility are handsome 

 structures. The total defeat of the Sardinian army near this town 

 by the Austrians under Marshal Radetzky (March 23, 1849) led to 

 the abdication of the Sardinian King Carlo Alberto, and to the 

 renunciation on the part of Sardinia of all claim to the sovereignty 

 of Lombardy. [Arona.] Borgomanero, 19 miles N. from Novara, ou 

 the left b.ink of the Agogna, is a well-built bustling town, with 7095 

 inhabitants. Gallialc, sitiwted near Novam, has 5858 inhabitants, 

 including the commuue. Oleggio, near the right bank of the Ticino, 

 N. of Novara, has a population of 7420. Trecate, on the road from 

 Novara to Vigevano, has a population of 5071. 



In the Lomcllina, the chief towns are — Mortara, the capital, which 

 stands 46 miles S. by K. from Novara in an unhealthy situation 

 among the irrigated rice-groimds ; it is surrounded by walls, and has 

 a population of 6316. Oambold, on the left bank of the Terdopio, 

 5 miles E. from Mortara: population, 5075. GarUuco, W.S.W. of 

 Mortara: population, 5436. .Afnfe, population 4415. Sannaaaro, vitix 

 3980 inhabitants ; and Vigevano, a large well-built walled town, which 

 gives title to a bishop, and has 15,221 inhabitant;, who trade in the 

 produce of the country, and manufacture silk, soap, gauze, hats, and 

 maccaroni. Vigevano is 16 miles S.E. from Novara, about a mile and 

 a half from the right bank of the Ticino, and on the southern road 

 from Milau to Turin. 



In the province of Pallanza the principal tovrns are — PiMama, a 

 small place of 2044 inhabitants on the shore of the Lago-Maggiore, 

 with a college and the provincial courts. Intra, a little NJB. of 

 Pallanza, which has 3743 mhabitants. 



The chief towu of the province of Ossola is CannMjio, several 

 miles higher up the lake : population, 2137. Ihmo d'Ouola, a well- 

 built cheerful little town of 2026 inhabitants, situated in a beautiful 

 part of the valley of the Toccia. At Domo-d'Ossols, the traveller 

 who crosses the Alps from Switzerland by the Simplon road, first 

 receivet his impression of the Italian sky, scenery, and manners. 



The province of Valsesia has for its capital Varalio, which is situ- 

 ated on the left bank of the Sesia, and has about 3000 inhabitants. 



{Nuova Circoscrizione dtlle Provincic dci Regii Slati in Terrafirma.) 



NOVOonOD SEVJiaSK. [Cz.'.n.NiuoF.] 



NOVI. (Okxoa, Province of.] 



NOVO MORKOFSK. [Ekatebinoslav.] . 



