a government of Russia, partly in Europe and partly in Asia, lying between N. Lat. 47° and 56° E. Long. 50° 20' and 64° 20'; and bounded on the N. by the government of Perm, N.W. by Viatka, W. by Kasan and Samara, S.W. by Astrakhan, S. by Caspian, S.E. and E. by the Kirghiz steppes, and N.E. by Tomsk and Tobolsk. Its length from N.W. to S.E. is 800 miles; breadth about 450 miles; area, exclusive of the Kirghiz steppes, 122,122 square miles. The surface of the country has a very different aspect in different parts. The Ural Mountains traverse it in an irregular line, but generally from N. to S., dividing the area into two very unequal portions—that to the W. being much the larger. The southern portion, which is occupied by the Ural Cossacks, consists of a barren treeless steppe; but farther to the north, on the Asiatic side of the Ural chain, there is a large plain, with numerous swamps, morasses, and small lakes. To the west of the mountains, again, the country is undulating; with varied and picturesque scenery. The formation of the Ural Mountains at the base is granite; but above this there are quartz and calcareous rocks. Many large caverns occur in these mountains. Gold is found in the chain, and constitutes one of the chief sources of mineral wealth to the government. The country west of the mountains is watered by the affluents of the Caspian Sea; of which the principal is the Ural, flowing southwards from the mountains, and receiving in this government the Samara and other tributaries. This river forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia. The western portion of Orenburg is watered by the Biela, Samara, and other streams which flow into the Volga, and thus into the Caspian. The rivers to the east of the Ural range are the Tobol, Abuga, Oui, and Mijas, which flow northwards to the Arctic Ocean. The greater part of the surface has a fertile soil, especially in the N.W.; a large part of the government is covered with thick forests; and a still larger portion consists of natural pasture-grounds, on which large herds and flocks wander. The climate is excessive in heat and cold, especially to the east of the Ural Mountains, where it is more rigorous than in the west. The southern steppes are very hot in summer, and these regions are afflicted by excessive drought and swarms of locusts. Agriculture is in a flourishing state, on account of the richness of the soil. The arable land amounted in 1849 to 5,780,326 acres, the meadow land to 10,851,906 acres, the wood to 29,612,089 acres, and the waste land to 48,451,163 acres. The amount of agricultural produce in the government in the same year was 38,112,219 bushels of corn, and 1,459,259 of potatoes. The principal crops raised are rye, barley, oats, buck-wheat, and millet. The inhabitants possess great numbers of horses, cattle, and sheep, in which the chief wealth of Orenburg consists. There were here in 1849, 2,075,220 horses, 1,089,859 horned-cattle, 2,321,934 sheep, and 207,143 swine. Besides the gold of the Urals, other minerals, such as copper, iron, salt, &c., are found, and the working of these employs a large number of hands. Great quantities of fish are obtained in the River Ural. Manufactures are not carried on to any very great extent, being chiefly confined to smelting, founding, and other operations connected with the mines. There are also, however, numerous tanneries, distilleries, potash-factories, and a manufactory of arms. The women of the province show great skill in weaving and dyeing; and they make worsted shawls and similar articles, like those that are made in the Orkney and Shetland islands. The number of manufactories in Orenburg in 1849 was 244, employing 17,104 hands. Of these there were 63 tanneries, 61 potash-factories, 43 tallow-melting houses, 40 tile-kilns, 17 smelting-houses and foundries; besides other establishments. An extensive commerce is carried on in the government, with the wandering tribes, the Kirghizes, and the people of Bokhara. Horses, cattle, furs, &c., are obtained from the nomad tribes in exchange for manufactured articles, brass, copper, iron, &c.; and silks, cotton, shawls, indigo, tea, and other goods are brought to Orenburg by the caravans from Bokhara. Mineral produce is exported from Orenburg to the other parts of European Russia; and especially to the shores of the Baltic. The Kirghizes and Cossacks in Orenburg are not subject to the civil government; but are under a military governor, whose principal duty is to superintend the line of forts by which the frontier towards Turkestan is secured. These extend in a line at the distance of 3 miles from each other from the River Tobol to the Caspian. Besides adherents of the Greek church, there are in the government numerous Roman Catholics, Protestants, Mohammedans, and Pagans. Exclusive of the country inhabited by the Cossacks, Orenburg is divided into nine circles, and contained, in 1851, 1,712,728 inhabitants, including 242,661 Cossacks.

Orenburg, a town, formerly the capital of the above government, stands on the Ural, 465 miles N.E. of Astrakhan, and 657 S.W. of Tobolsk. It is of an oval form, with wide and regular, but ill-paved streets; and presents an active and agreeable appearance. It is surrounded by fortifications; and the most of the houses are of wood, though a few are built of stone. It has a cathedral and other Greek churches, Roman Catholic and Protestant places of worship, and two mosques. The town has also two bazaars, a European and an Asiatic, each on the side of the river belonging to their respective countries. The former contains 180, and the latter 492 shops. Manufactures of woollen cloth, leather, soap, and tallow, are carried on here. Orenburg is the chief emporium for the Russian trade with Central Asia. Caravans arrive here yearly from Bokhara, with jewels, gold, silk, cotton, &c.; and from the Kirghizes with cattle and hides; while many merchants from China and India bring thither their goods. It is the principal military station on the Kirghiz frontier. Pop. 16,000.

ORENSE. See GALICIA.