a fortified seaport town of North Germany, grand-duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 18 miles N.E. of Schwerin, and connected by a branch line with the Hamburg-Rostock Railway. It stands at the Head of Wallfisch Bay, which forms one of the best harbours on the Baltic, being protected by the islands of Poel and Wallfisch at its entrance. The town is tolerably well built, and contains several good public buildings, among which are three large Gothic churches, and an elegant town-hall. It carries on an extensive trade, especially in the export of grain, besides which the inhabitants are employed in fishing, ship-building, agriculture, and the manufacture of tobacco, sailcloth, beer, spirits, &c. Wismar was formerly one of the Hansa towns. Pop. (1858) 12,875.