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GEOGRAPHICAL READER.
XI. — AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, TURKEY, AND
GRERCH.
Aus’-tri-a-Hun’-ga-ry, |
Tur’-key.
Vi-en’-na. | Con-stan-ti-no/-ple.
mosque mosk]. Rou-ma/-ni-a.
1. THERE is in the central part of Europe, east of
Germany, a large empire called AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.
The western portion includes a part of the Alps, and
is much like Switzerland and southern Germany.
Through this the Danube flows, winding along beauti-
ful valleys, or rushing down deep and narrow gorges in
waterfalls and rapids.
2. East of the mountains, is a fine country of low hills
and rich plains, in which are forests, grainfields, and
vineyards. Everywhere are villages and cities, some
of which have stood for hundreds of years; and here
and there, on rugged hills, are strong old castles, like
those in Germany. The largest of the cities is Vienna;
which is situated beside the Danube, near the point
where it leaves the mountains. It is the capital of the
ampire ; and contains the palaces in which the emperor
and his family live, and many other splendid buildings.
3. Beyond this varied country, a broad plain stretches
aastward, without hills, without trees, without roads,
without houses. Along the streams are immense
marshes, which it is almost impossible to cross. KElse-
where the plain is sandy, covered only by grass or
other low plants. In some places, even these do not
grow; but the bare, loose sand is driven by the winds
into ridges like snowärifts.