(Swedish Götheborg), a maritime city of Sweden, capital of a cognominal län or province, on the left bank of the Götha, about 5 miles above its mouth in the Cattegat. In point of importance Gothenburg ranks next to Stockholm. It consists of a lower and an upper town, the former being in a marshy plain, and intersected by several canals, which give it somewhat of the appearance of a Dutch town—the latter on the adjacent rocky heights. The canals are crossed by numerous and frequently handsome bridges, while rows of trees line their banks. The streets are generally spacious and well paved, and the houses, which are mostly built of stone or of bricks well stuccoed, have always a substantial and often an elegant appearance. Of the walls which formerly surrounded the town only a few fragments now remain, but the harbour is defended by three forts. The suburbs are larger than the town itself, and extend for a considerable distance along the river. The principal public buildings are the new exchange a large and splendid edifice, three churches of which the cathedral is a simple but elegant cruciform edifice surmounted by a tower, town-hall, bishop's palace, governor's residence, arsenal, theatre, &c. It has a gymnasium with a library attached, a society of arts, 2 free schools, 2 orphan asylums, an infirmary, and many benevolent institutions. The manufactures are various and extensive. Among its industrial products may be mentioned sailcloth, linen, plain and printed cottons, woollen cloth, tobacco, snuff, leather, paper, sugar, and porter. Shipbuilding is also extensively carried on. Vessels do not come close to the town, but lie in the river at a short distance from the shore, goods being conveyed to and from them by means of lighters that navigate the canals of the lower town. The depth of water in the port is 17 feet; and there is no tide, bar, or shallow. Iron and steel, the former excellent, the latter inferior to that made in England, form the principal articles of export. The next great article of export is timber, particularly deals. The others are tar, pitch, copper, bark, sailcloth, linen, cobalt, manganese, bones, linseed, &c. The principal articles of import are colonial produce, cotton-yarn and twist, salt, wine, rice, fish, &c. The opening of the Götha canal has greatly benefited its commerce by bringing it into communication with a large portion of the interior of Sweden. In 1849, 718 vessels entered, and 1462 cleared in the coasting trade; and 1018 vessels entered, and 1011 left for foreign ports, exclusive of steamers, of which the number that entered and cleared out at the port were 88. Gothenburg was built on its present site by Gustavus Adolphus in 1611. Pop. about 30,000.

The län of Gothenburg is bounded on the N. by Norway, E. by the län of Wenersborg, S. by that of Halmstad, and W. by the Skager-Rack and Cattegat. The surface is mountainous and well wooded. Agriculture has recently made considerable progress, but the quantity of grain produced is not equal to the wants of the inhabitants. The streams are very numerous, but generally small, the principal being the Götha, which connects Lake Wener with the sea. The coast is much indented by bays and arms of the sea, and is lined by numerous islands. Area 1884 square miles. Pop. (1850) 187,583.