Gothland

Gothland (Swed. Götaland and Götarike), the southernmost of the three old provinces of Sweden, with an area of 35,800 sq. m. and a population of over two and a half millions.—(2) A Swedish island (Swed. Gottland) in the Baltic, 44 miles E. from the mainland, constitutes with Farö, Gotska, Sandö, and other smaller islands the province of Gottland or Wisby. Area, 1217 sq. m. The island consists mainly of terrace-like slopes of limestone, which are encircled by cliffs broken by numerous deep fiords, more especially on the west coast; the eastern parts are flat. The climate is mild. Next to agriculture, the chief occupations of the inhabitants, (a little over 50,000) are shipping, fishing, seal-fishing, fowling, and lime-burning. In the middle ages the island belonged to the German Hanseatic League, but was restored to Sweden in 1645. The capital is Wisby (q.v.).