Austria, ARCHDUCHEY OF, the cradle of the Austrian empire, lies on both sides of the Danube, from the Inn to Presburg, on the borders of Hungary, and has an area of 18,052 sq. m., with a pop. of (1890) 3,621,140. It now forms three provinces of the empire—viz. Lower and Upper Austria (below and above the Enns), and the duchy of
Salzburg (see preceding article; also SALZBURG). The south and west portions are mountainous; the north and east are more level and fertile, containing the great plain of Vienna, the Marchfeld, &c. The population is mostly German and Catholic. The chief towns, besides Vienna, are Wiener-Neustadt, Salzburg, Steyer, Linz, and Ischl.