LIEGNITZ, one of the three governments into which Prussian Silesia is divided, comprising the N.W. part of Upper Silesia, and that part of Upper Lausatia which now forms part of Prussia. It is bounded on the N., N.E., and N.W. by the provinces of Posen and Brandenburg, S.E. by the government of Breslau, and S.W. by Bohemia. Area 53,000 square miles. The surface is rugged and mountainous in the S., and traversed by ridges of the Riesengebirge, several of which exceed 4000 feet in height. It then slopes rapidly northward to the great plain of the Oder, which flows from S.E. to N.W. through the government, and forms part of its northern boundary. Besides the Oder, the chief rivers are its affluents, the Katzbach, Bober, and Neisse. The soil is generally sandy, and the corn produced is not sufficient for the wants of the inhabitants. Large numbers of sheep and cattle are reared. Pop. (1849) 921,002.