Vistula
the largest river that flows into the Baltic; rises in the former Austrian Silesia on the N. slopes of the Bieskiden, and is formed by the union of the Black, the White, and the Little Vistulas (Biala, Molinka and Czorna). It flows N. to the village of Vistula, where it forms a waterfall 190 feet in height, then through a rocky valley to the town of Schwarzwasser, where it leaves the mountain land. Before the World War it separated Prussian Silesia from Austrian Silesia and Galicia, and after receiving the Przemza flows N. E., passing Cracow, and separating Galicia from Poland as far as Sandomir, where it receives the San, and turns N. N. W., then W., across the great plain of Poland, passing war passing passing Warsaw, Nowo Georgiewsk, and Plock, and receiving the Pilica and Bug.
Near Thorn it entered Prussia, and continues a N. W. course till it receives the Brahe below Bromberg, where it turns sharply N. N. E. At Montau, near Marienwerder, it divides into two branches, the smaller of which, called the Nogat, discharges into the Frisches Haff, while the larger or W. branch after flowing 40 miles farther, again divides at Fürstenwerder into two branches, the smaller or E. falling into the Frisches Haff, and the main branch turning W. and falling into the Baltic at Weichselmünde, 3 miles N. of Danzig. The total length of the Vistula is 630 miles. As a result of the World War the Vistula has become a river of Poland, flowing through Polish territory throughout its entire length, with the exception of about the last 50 miles, which flow partly through East Prussia and partly through territory belonging to Danzig.