33 



It is not my intention to go further into the question of ice ages, 

 but I simply wish to show that the question of ice ages or glacial epochs 

 is one which properly falls also within the sphere of mathematicians 

 and astronomers, and is not one wholly belonging to the realm of the 

 geologist. 



(Mr. Klotz then showed, with the aid of a lime-light, 28 typical 

 views of Alaska, taken in connection with the Boundary Survey. 

 Numerous dead and living glaciers were thrown on the screen, showing 

 lateral, median and terminal moraines ; also the erosive and grinding 

 action of glaciers. The principal features of each view were lucidly 

 explained.) 



The largest glacier in Europe is the Aletsch, which measures 

 about fourteen miles from its neve to its foot. The celebrated Mer 

 de Glace, which descends from Mont Blanc to the valley of Chamounix, 

 is about eight miles long below the neve-field. On our survey the neve 

 of the Foster Glacier was found to extend into the interior thirty miles, 

 and this is by no means the largest one. The glaciers of the Alps are 

 mosty confined to the northern side of the mountains and none of them 

 descend below 4,000 feet. 



A feature of a once glaciated area, is the numerous lakes that are 

 left after the recession of the glaciers ; partly in basins that have been 

 scooped out, and partly in basins that have been formed by damming of 

 the valley by moraines. Those of the latter kind become relatively soon 

 drained by the erosion of the barrier. In Tyrol, during the past 

 century, no less than one hundred and eighteen lakes have disappeared, 

 as found by comparison of maps covering that period. 



Knowing the origin, then, of many lakes in northern latitudes we 

 are not surprised at the innumerable lakes that dot Canada from Halifax 

 to the Mackenzie. 



Norway presents a similar picture. 



References 



"The Seal Islands of Alaska," H. W. Elliott. 



" The Coast Indians of Southern Alaska and Northern British Columbia," by 



XT' 



^OSlC/j/x^ 



Eleventh Census, 1890, U.S. 



