(Ger. Graubünden), the largest and most eastern of the cantons of Switzerland, is bounded on the N.E., E., and S.E., by Liechtenstein and the Austrian dominions, and on the other sides by the cantons of St. Gall, Glarus, Uri, and Ticino. It lies between N. Lat. 46° 15' and 47° 4', and E. Long. 8° 40' and 10° 29'; is 80 miles in length from E.N.E. to W.S.W., and 45 in breadth, and has an area of 2963 square miles. Lofty ranges of mountains constitute its boundaries on almost every point, and occupy a great part of the interior; indeed, the whole canton may be said to be mountainous. The main chain of the Rhaetian Alps crosses the canton from W. to E., at first separating it from Ticino and Italy, and afterwards dividing the waters of the Rhine from those that flow into the Inn. A great portion of this chain is above the limit of perpetual snow; and some of the summits, as those of the Muschelhorn, the Piz Val Rhin, and Monte Maloya, considerably exceed the height of 10,000 feet above the sea. It is crossed by the passes of the Splügen, Bernardin, Albula, and Scalleta. Another mountain range, an offset of the Lepontine Alps, and little inferior in height to the former, extends in a N.E. direction from the St Gotthard, and forms the western boundary of the canton, dividing the waters of the Rhine from those of the Reuss and Linth. A third chain bounds the Engadine on the S.E., and a fourth, called the Rhætibon, forms the boundary between the Grisons and the Vorarlberg. The valleys are numerous and strikingly beautiful. There are five greater valleys, known as the Hither Rhine, the Farther Rhine, the Engadine, the Albula, and the Brettegan; and nearly 150 smaller valleys are connected with these. There are no fewer than 240 glaciers and 56 waterfalls within the canton. The Rhine and the Inn both have their sources in the Grisons, as have also several tributaries of the Upper Adige, the Po, and the Adda. The scenery is peculiarly grand and magnificent. The character of the country unites it for agriculture, and consequently its chief wealth consists in cattle, which, with timber, constitute its principal exports. Sheep, goats, and hogs are also numerous. Iron, lead, and zinc are among the mineral products, but few mines are worked. The manufactures are not important, and are chiefly for domestic use. The climate is very various. In the upper valleys the snow lies for seven months in the year, while in some of the others the temperature is sufficiently mild to admit of the cultivation of the vine. The corn produced does not by half supply the wants of the inhabitants. Hemp and flax are largely cultivated. The principal branch of commerce is the transit trade with Italy, across the Alps. The old division of the canton into three leagues is still adhered to; the Gray League (Grüne Band), the League of God's House (Gottes-haus Band), and the League of Ten Jurisdictions (Zehngerichtete Band). Each of these comprise several jurisdictions (in all twenty-six), and these in their turn contain a number of communes, which may almost be said to be so many little republics, as each exercises within itself rights almost independent. The legislative power is vested in the great council, as also the election to public offices, and the settling of disputes among the communes; but the people have a veto in the passing of new laws, and in the concluding of treaties. It is composed of sixty-five members chosen annually, in the different jurisdictions, by universal suffrage of the male population above seventeen years of age. It nominates a commission of nine members, charged with the preparation and preliminary discussion of subjects coming before it; and also a small council of three members, one for each league, intrusted with the executive. Pop. (1850) 89,895, of whom 38,039 were Roman Catholics, and 51,855 Protestants. About 50,000 speak Romansch, 30,000 German, and 9000 Italian.