Cronstadt

Cronstadt, or Kronstadt. 1. A fortified seaport of Russia at the S.E. extremity of the island of Kotlin, in the Gulf of Finland. Situated about twenty miles from St. Petersburg, it serves at once as the chief commercial harbour and naval arsenal of the capital, the island commanding all the sea approaches. The port is divided into the Merchant harbour, the Middle harbour, and the War harbour, the first two of which are divided by the Man-of-war's mole. -Upwards of 1,000 trading vessels can be accommodated, and those drawing over 10 feet must unload. The harbours are connected by canals, and protected by six heavily-armed granite forts. A naval school has been established in the Menschikoff palace, and the town contains hospitals, cannon foundries, building-sheds, barracks, etc., besides the palace of Peter the Great. From November to April the port is closed by ice, but in the open season a large trade is done, the chief exports being tallow, corn, hemp, and flax. Cronstadt was founded by Peter the Great in 1710.

2. Cronstadt, Kronstadt, "Krunen a Brasso," a town in Transylvania, Austria, on the river Farcas, seventy miles from Hermanstadt, is the capital of the district bearing the same name. Standing in a lofty valley on the flank of the eastern Carpathians, it nevertheless is surrounded by rich agricultural land, and is the most populous centre of the province. The old walled town dates from the 13th century. It contains a fine old Gothic Protestant church, a Catholic church, public library, Rathhaus, and other public buildings. The principal articles of trade are iron and copper, dyes, woollen and cotton goods, paper and printing, and bottles. It is connected by railway with Hungary.