SIVAS  , one of the largest and most important vilayets of

Asia Minor, lying between 38° 30' and 41° N. and 35° 30' and 39° E . It is rich in mineral wealth—silver, lead, copper, iron, manganese, arsenic, alum, salt and coal; and has several hot and cold mineral springs, and large forests of fir, pine, beech and oak . The climate is good, the average elevation of the province being over 3500 ft., and the soil fertile . Wheat and barley are largely grown on the plateau, and in the lower districts there are extensive fruit orchards and vineyards . The port of the vilayet is Samsun (q.v.), whence a chaussee runs through Amasia, Tokat, and Sivas to Kharput; but Sivas is also connected by road with the minor Black Sea ports, Unieh, Ordu and Kerasund . The rates for transport are, however, prohibitive . Angora is the nearest railway point .