KHARKOV, or CHARKOV, a government in the S. of European Russia, lying between N. Lat. 48. 30. and 51. 20., and E. Long. 34. 20. and 38. 20. It is bounded N. by the government of Noursk, E. by Voronez, S. by Ekaterinoslav, and W. by Poltava. Area, 20,900 square miles. The surface is generally flat, and not much wooded. The soil is very fertile, and in ordinary years about one-fourth of the quantity of corn produced is exported. Flax, hemp, tobacco, hops, and potatoes, are also grown. Bees are abundant, and cattle-rearing receives a considerable degree of attention. The principal rivers are the Donetz and Oskol, neither of which is navigable. With the exception of distilleries, which are numerous, the industrial establishments are few and unimportant, the principal being tanneries, salt-petre-works, and tallow-melting houses. Pop. (1851) 1,366,188.