or ALTONA, a sea-port town of Germany, in the duchy of Holstein, in Lower Saxony. It is a modern town, built by the king of Denmark, and was burnt by the Swedes in 1712, but has since been beautifully rebuilt. The number of inhabitants is about 30,000, and it has a considerable trade. Long. 10. 0. E. Lat. 53. 51. N.

a circle in the government of Arenburg and Prussian province of Westphalia. Its extent is 138 square miles, or 88,320 acres. The chief rivers are the Lenne, which receives the waters of the Nette and the Erse, and the Wupper, both of which run to the Rhine. The agriculture is bad, and in many parts can scarcely produce oats. It has some pasture land, and, besides, yields wood, game, iron, marble, and good stones for building. Its population, which amounts to 27,996, depends almost wholly on the several manufactures which are spread over the whole circle. These comprehend almost every species of iron goods, which, though clumsy in form, are very substantial, and find a ready sale.

a city, the chief of the circle of the same name, in Prussia. It contains 598 houses, and 3420 inhabitants, who trade in the several kinds of goods made in the vicinity. It is situated on the Lenne. Long. 7. 41. 23. E. Lat. 51. 15. 36. N.

ALTERNBERG, a bailiwick in the circle of Erzgebirg, in Saxony. It is a lofty and woody district, in which no corn but oats can be grown. It yields, however, tolerable crops of potatoes. The chief objects of labour are the mines of tin. It has three small cities, a market-town, and ten villages, with 3800 inhabitants.