Friuli–Venezia Giulia
[key], region, 3,031 sq mi (7,850 sq km), NE Italy, bordering on Austria
in the north and on Slovenia in the east. Trieste is the capital of the region,
which is divided into Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste, and Udine provs. (named
for their capitals). It extends from the E Alps in the north to the Adriatic
Sea in the south and is drained by the Tagliamento River. It is an area of
considerable seismic activity; a 1976 earthquake north of Udine killed over
1,000 people. Farming is the chief occupation; cereals, potatoes, and grapes
are the leading crops, and dairy cattle and hogs are raised.
Industrialization has accelerated since 1945; manufactures include textiles,
processed food, refined petroleum, chemicals, and machinery. The region was
formed in 1947 by the merger of Udine prov. with that part of the former
region of Venezia Giulia
not annexed by Yugoslavia. Trieste prov. was added in 1954. In 1963
Friuli–Venezia Giulia was given limited autonomy. It contains the
western part of the historic region of Friuli. There is a university at
Trieste.
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