THE (2+1)-DIMENSIONAL BLACK-HOLE

I review the classical and quantum properties of the (2 + 1)-dimension al black hole of Banados, Teitelboim and Zanelli. This solution of the Einstein field equations in three spacetime dimensions shares many of the characteristics of the Kerr black hole: it has an event horizon, an inner horizon, and an ergosphere; it occurs as an endpoint of gravi tational collapse; it exhibits mass inflation; and it has a non-vanish ing Hawking temperature and interesting thermodynamic properties. At t he same time, its structure is simple enough to allow a number of exac t computations, particularly in the quantum realm, that are impractica l in 3+1 dimensions.