Warsaw (Polish Warszawa), long the capital of Poland and now capital of a government of Russian Poland, stands on the left bank of the Vistula, 330 miles E. of Berlin by rail and 700 SW. of St Petersburg. It stands partly on a high plain, partly on the terraces sloping upwards from the left bank of the river, extends over a wide area, and consists of the city proper and a number of suburbs. Two iron bridges connect Warsaw with the suburb of Praga, on the right bank of the Vistula. Standing on a navigable river, with great railway lines to Moscow, St Petersburg, Vienna, Danzig, and Berlin, Warsaw is one of the most important towns in eastern Europe, being, next after Moscow and St Petersburg, the largest city in the empire. There is much trade in corn and flax exported, and in coal and manufactured goods imported. Warsaw has among its own manufactures those of electroplate, machinery, boots and leather goods, woollens, pianos, carriages, tobacco, sugar, chemicals, beer, and spirits. Of over one hundred Catholic churches the cathedral of St John is the most notable; there are also some half-dozen Greek churches, two Lutheran ones, and many synagogues. The castle is an imposing building, and contains many pictures and sculptures. There are innumerable private palaces or mansions, many of them fine. The university, suppressed in 1832, was reopened in 1864, and has seventy-five professors (who teach in Russian) and about 1000 students. There are various academies and museums, a school of arts, several theatres, and some fine public gardens. Pop.
(1872) 276,000; (1891) 465,272. Area of government, 5623 sq. m.; pop. 1,465,131. The city of Warsaw has been closely identified historically with Poland, the insurrections against Russia having generally had their headquarters here. See POLAND, RUSSIA.