(Ger. Waadt,) a canton of Switzerland, bounded on the N. by the canton and lake of Neuchâtel; E. and S.E. by the cantons of Fribourg, Bern, and Valais; S. by the lake and canton of Geneva; and W. by France. Its length from N. to S. is 29 miles, its greatest breadth 23, and its area 1180 square miles. It occupies the country lying between the range of the Jura and that of the Alps; the former mountains extending from N.E. to S.W. along the boundary between this canton and France, while the latter, stretching westwards between Bern and Valais, terminate about the S.E. extremity of the canton. These two ranges are connected by the Jorat, a chain of hills extending E. and W., and forming the watershed between the affluents of the lake of Neuchâtel and the Aar on the N., and those of the lake of Geneva and the Rhone on the S. From this central chain, the country slopes on either side towards the lake of Geneva on the S., and to that of Neuchâtel on the N. The loftiest mountains in the canton are in the Alps, the Diablerets, 11,120 feet high; and in the Jura, La Dols, and Mont Suchet, the former 5775, and the latter 4900 feet. The entire surface is undulating, as the canton is traversed by numerous valleys, and indeed derives its name from the old word vauda which was applied to them. The country between the range of the Jorat and the lake of Geneva is one of the finest regions of central Europe. It presents to the view fertile plains, picturesque valleys, green pastures, and terraced hills covered with vineyards; and it is watered by a number of streams for the most part of small size. The rivers to the north of the Jorat ridge are of larger size, and of these the principal are the Orbe, flowing into the lake of Neuchatel, and the Broye into that of Morat. Besides the lakes of Neuchatel and Geneva, which belong only partly to the canton, there are several of smaller size entirely included within its limits, the most important being that of Jorca in the Jura mountains, traversed by the river Orbe.

The climate of the country varies considerably in different parts, but is on the whole mild and healthy, especially about the upper end of the lake of Geneva. The only mineral worked to any extent is iron; though coal, marble, and sulphur are also obtained. At Bex, in the east of the canton, is one of the few salt springs in Switzerland. The soil is not very favourable for agriculture, being in the more elevated tracts poor and thin, and on the lower ground heavy and difficult to work. Still farming is the principal occupation of the people; although the amount of corn produced is hardly equal to the consumption; the vines being the most profitable production of the country. Hemp and flax are also grown to a considerable extent. There are extensive orchards, yielding fruit of various kinds, and a large part of the canton is covered with wood, in which pine, elm, ash, alder, and various kinds of nut-trees are the prevailing growth. In the Alps and Jura there are extensive mountain-pastures, on which horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs are reared in large numbers and of good quality. Indeed, next to the growth of vines, the rearing of live stock is the most important branch of rural industry. In 1854, the canton contained about 172,000 acres of arable land, 311,000 of pasture, 148,900 of forests, and 14,400 of vineyards; and in the same year, the number of horses was 17,622, of horned cattle 72,650, of sheep 41,493, of goats 17,455, and of pigs 29,728. Few manufactures are carried on, except those of leather, yarn, and coarse pottery for domestic use. The commerce consists chiefly of the transport of French goods to the interior of Switzerland and Germany; and the export of wine, cheese, and cattle. A railway from Geneva to Bern, with branches to Verdun and Bex, traverses the canton, and many steamers ply regularly on the lake of Geneva. The great majority of the inhabitants are of French origin; and among the upper classes that language is spoken, though the common people generally use a Romance dialect. The established religion, and that of the majority of the people, is the Protestant, and the canton is divided into 149 parishes. There are nearly 7000 Roman Catholics, a number of Protestant dissenters, chiefly Pietists, and a few Jews. Education is well provided for, as the canton contains an academy at Lausanne, with theological, legal, medical, and philosophical faculties; a normal seminary; a number of classical and industrial schools; and upwards of 700 elementary schools. The constitution of Vaud is more aristocratic than that of most of the Swiss cantons, but it has so large an intermixture of the democratic element, that it is difficult to say which is most prevalent. The legislature consists of a council of 184 elected for five years, and meeting annually at Lausanne, the capital. Its members must possess a certain pecuniary qualification, and are only partly chosen by popular election. The executive consists of a council of nine elected by the legislature. Vaud is represented by two members in the council of states, and by ten in the national council of Switzerland. Its contingent to the army of the confederacy is 2964 men. Pop. (1850) 199,575; of which 192,225 were Protestants, and 6962 Roman Catholics.