URI, a canton of Switzerland, and one of the three that formed the original confederacy; bounded on the N. by that of Schwyz, E. by those of Glarus and Grisons, S. by those of Ticino and Valais, and W. by those of Bern and Unterwalden. Length from N. to S., 32 miles; breadth, 19; area, 420 square miles. It comprises one of the most rugged and mountainous regions in Switzerland, and is so much secluded from the surrounding country that the only two ways of access to it are by the Pass of St Gotthard in the south, and the Lake of Luzern in the north. St Gotthard is the most celebrated, though not the loftiest of the mountains in the canton. In the west part of the canton is the Galenstock, the Sustenhorn, and the Urirostock; in the south, St Gotthard with its different peaks; in the east, the Scheerhorn, Windgelle, and Bristenstock; and in the north, the Ross-stock. Enclosed by these peaks and the ridges that connect them lies the principal valley of the canton, that of the Reuss, a river which rises in Mount St Gotthard, and flows northwards into the Lake of Luzern. In its upper part this valley is narrow and rugged, but farther down it opens out into a small plain. Numerous small tributaries join the Reuss from both sides, flowing through a confused mass of valleys, ravines, and mountains. There is so little level ground that agriculture can hardly at all be carried on here; corn, rape, potatoes, and other vegetables are grown in the vales, but rather in gardens than in farms. But the country is naturally rich; and, besides some fine pastures, the canton contains large numbers of chestnuts, walnuts, and other trees. The chief support of the inhabitants is rearing cattle and sheep, and making cheese and butter. In 1854, the canton contained 6100 milch cows, 11,297 sheep, 12,982 goats, and 1450 swine; and produced more than 8500 cwt. of cheese, and nearly 1800 cwt. of butter. With cheese, cattle, hides, and some wool, the inhabitants are able to pay for the small portions of corn, iron, tobacco, wine, and colonial produce, which they use; and there is now scarcely any other trade. At one time, the road by St. Gotthard was much used for the transport of goods to and from Italy, and thus some money was brought into the canton; but the opening of new roads over the Simplon and by the Splügen has attracted much of that commerce into other channels. The government is a pure democracy; the sovereignty being in the hands of the General Assembly, consisting of all the males above 20. This body not only elects the landammann, or president, and other executive officers, but has a considerable share in the legislative functions. The religion of the people is the Roman Catholic, under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Chur, and there are 16 parish churches in the canton. The language spoken is a dialect of German; as the inhabitants all belong to that race. Uri is represented by one member in the Council of States, and by two in the National Council of the Confederacy. Its contingent to the federal army is 236 men; but all the male inhabitants are drilled as soldiers, and form the militia. Pop. (1850) 14,505.