MALMÖ, a seaport-town of Sweden, capital of the laen or province of the same name, stands on the E. shore of the Sound, nearly opposite Copenhagen, from which it is 16 miles distant; N. Lat. 55. 40., E. Long. 13. The town, which stands on a level plain, is well laid out with regular and well built streets, and has a fine square in the centre. Malmö was formerly very strongly fortified, being surrounded by walls and ditches, and protected by a castle; but the walls have been demolished, and only the castle now remains, which is used as a prison and barracks. The square is adorned by a handsome avenue of limes and other trees; and the principal buildings in the town are two churches, one of which has a fine interior and a large organ. The harbour, which consists of a roadstead and an artificial inner basin, is only accessible to small vessels. Being, however, the principal commercial town in the fertile province to which it belongs, it carries on an extensive trade, particularly in grain and brandy. The manufactures are considerable, consisting of woollen cloth, starch, gloves, stockings, hats, carpets, tobacco, soap, &c. Steamers ply regularly between this and Copenhagen, accomplishing the distance in two hours. Pop. 10,203. The laen or province of the same name, of which Malmö is the capital, is one of the richest in Sweden, and comprises an area of 1774 square miles. It is bounded by Christianstad on the N. and E., by the Baltic on the S., and by the Sound on the W. The surface is for the most part level, though occasionally diversified with hills. It includes several lakes. The produce of this district consists of corn, potatoes, hemp, hops, tobacco, and fruits; and the horses and cattle reared here are said to be the finest in Sweden. Corn and cattle are the chief articles of export. Pop. of laen (1850) 253,084.