r ALT, a considerable river of Turkey in Europe, which, after watering the north-east part of Transylvania and part of Wallachia, falls into the Danube almost opposite to Nicopolis.

ALAVA, a province in the north of Spain, one of those three usually denominated Provincias Vascongadas, or Basques, which enjoy privileges that distinguish them from the other dominions of the Spanish monarchy, and speak a language most remote from the Castilian, generally called by the natives Vascuence, and by other people the Basque. This province is of a triangular shape, bounded on the north by Guipuzcoa and Biscay, on the east by Navarre, on the south and south-west by Rioja, from which it is divided by the river Ebro, and on the west by the northern part of Old Castile. The extent of this province is 814 geographical square miles; and the population, by the census of 1849, amounted to 81,397 souls, giving a density of inhabitants somewhat exceeding the general average of Spain.

The surface of the province is very mountainous, and is abundantly clothed with woods and lofty trees. Its valleys are fertile. The soil yields more corn than the subsistence of its inhabitants requires, as well as flax, hemp, some oil, and a kind of wine called chacoli, which is drunk when new, and will not long retain its qualities. The mountains abound in iron-ore; and there were once extensive manufactories of iron goods, though they have of late decreased, owing to the destruction of the forests which supplied them with fuel; besides which, their productions are charged with heavy imposts on their introduction into Castile. The salt-works of Añana are among the largest in Spain, and yield a yearly average of 50,000 bushels, which is said, however, to be not more than one-eighth of what they are capable of producing. There are numerous weavers of coarse cloths and blankets over the whole province. Shoes and hats are manufactured; but these articles, like the ironware, have experienced a sensible declension of late years. The capital of the province is Vittoria, situated on the river Zadorra, which empties itself into the Ebro. The other rivers are the Ayuda, which runs into the Zadorra; and the Omeccillo, which empties itself into the Ebro.