PRUSSIA. 



743 



CHAPTER XCV. PRUSSIA. 



Berlin. 



1 . Boundaries and Extent. This kingdom is composed of two distinct portions of territory, 

 separated by the German States. They are bounded north by the Netherlands, Hanover, 

 Mecklenburg, and the Baltic Sea ; east by Russia and Poland ; south by Austria, Saxony, 

 several of the German States ; and west by the Netherlands. The northern extremity is in 

 55"^ 46', and the southern in 49"^ north latitude. The eastern extremity is in 23-", and the 

 western in 6° east longitude. The eastern division contains 88,200, and the western 18,100 

 square miles ; total, 106,-300.* 



2. Mountains. Some parts of the eastern division are skirted by the Hartz and Sndetic 

 mountains. In the western part, there are some ranges of hills ; but in general, the country is 

 not mountainous. 



3. Rivers. The Oder rises in Moravia and flows through the whole of eastern and south- 

 ern Prussia northwesterly into the Baltic ; it is 460 miles long, and for the most part is navi- 

 gable. The Elbe enters Prussia from Saxony, and flows northwesterly into Hanover. The 

 Spree, Saale, Havel, and Elster, are tributaries of the Elbe. The Pregel, J^iemen, and Vis- 

 tula, water the northeastern part. The western part is traversed from southeast to northwest 

 by the Rhine. 



4. Coast and Bays. Prussia has 500 miles of coast upon the Baltic, comprising two large 

 bays, the Gulf of Danlzic, and the Gulf of Rvgcn, and three Haffs, or Gulfs ; the Kurische 

 Haff, which receives the Nieman ; the Frischc Haff, at the mouth of the Vistula ; and the 

 Stettin Haff, at the mouth of the Oder. 



5. Islands. On the coast of Pomerania, on the Baltic, is the island of Rugen, the largest 

 belonging to Germany. It contains 370 square miles, and is partly covered with a forest of 

 beech trees. Many parts of it are fertile. It has 28,150 inhabitants. The chief town is 

 Bergen, with a population of 2,200. Several small islands are scattered around it. 



6. Climate. The climate is temperate and he;i]thy in general, though varying much in the 

 different provinces. Along the Baltic it is cold, damp, and variable. In the interior it is 

 much more agreeable. 



7. Soil. In the eastern part (here is little fertile land, except strips of low marshy territory 

 along the coast and rivers. The remainder is sandy and overgrown with heath. In the west- 

 ern part the soil is much superior ; yet here are many tracts that are stony and unproductive. 



8. JMinerals. The mountainous parts contain iron, copper, lead, and silver. Salt is ob- 

 tained from springs in Prussian Saxony. Eastern Prussia is the only country of Europe which 

 produces in any abundance the remarkable substance called amber ; naturalists are yet ignorant 

 of its origin, and it is uncertain whether it should be ranked among vegetable, mineral, or ani- 

 mal productions. It is found on the shores of the Baltic, thrown upon the beach by the strong 

 northeasterly gales. Sometimes it is found in sand-hills near the sea, in regular strata, which 

 are worked as in a mine. It is also found in the interior, but in small pieces, and to a trifling 



* The Canton of Neufchatel, in SwitzPrland, arknowledges tlie sovereigntv of the king' of Pni?sia ; but tins is in iiis 

 •wn right, and not as king of Prussia. 



