Albace'te,

Albace'te, capital of a Spanish province, 140 miles SE. of Madrid by rail, stands in a fertile but treeless plain. It has great cattle-fairs; and was formerly noted for the manufacture of knives and other steel goods. Pop. 20,671.—The province of Albacete is partly formed from the former kingdom of Murcia, and partly from New Castile. It is generally hilly, and in some parts mountainous, some of its mountains attaining an altitude of 5000 feet; but it contains also rich plains and fertile valleys. Agriculture is in a more advanced state than in most parts of Spain. The mineral wealth of the province is considerable. The area of the province is 5972 sq. m.; pop. 229,105.