CATALONIA, in Spanish Cataluña, a department forming a triangle in the N.E. corner of the peninsula, is bounded N. by the Pyrenees W. by Aragon, S. by Valencia, and E. by the Mediterranean. It extends from N. Lat. 40. 30. to 42. 50., and from E. Long. 0. 12. to 3. 20. The line of sea-coast extends for about 200 miles, but is utterly destitute of good harbours, although a large portion of the population is engaged in the fisheries. The interior of the province is intersected by numerous sierras which branch off from the Pyrenees on the north, and the great central ridge which terminates in the Sierra de Llana on the S.W. Its climate and productions vary with the elevation of the surface, but there are few fertile plains, and little attention is paid to agriculture. As a manufacturing province Catalonia is the most important in Spain; but much of its commercial wealth is due to the contraband trade with France, which is easily carried on through the narrow and almost inaccessible defiles of the Pyrenees. The Catalonians generally are a powerful and hardy race, averse to the ordinary drudgery of the husbandman and mechanic, and foremost in all the revolts which have marked the political history of Spain. Catalonia is divided into the provinces of Barcelona, Tarragona, Lérida, and Gerona, the most important points in regard to which will be found under the heads of their respective capitals. The mineral wealth of the department is considerable, and consists in seams of coal, copper, lead, salt, cobalt, &c. The principal productions of the soil are corn, oil, hemp, fruits, and silk. The manufactures embrace cottons, woollens, silks, lace, leather, brandy, and wines. Area rather more than 12,000 square miles. Pop. 1,283,734.