tliC Land in Scandinavia. -K Sill 



growth of ancient pines close to the sea on the coast of Finland, 

 and by the similar position of the walls of the Castle of Abo, 

 that in those spots at least no sensible change of the respective 

 level of the land and water has for a long period taken place. 

 This is decisive as to the permanence of the water's level, but it 

 in no degree weakens the positive evidence of a rise of the land 

 in many parts of Scandinavia. 



hit is only on the coasts that the rate at which the land rises 

 can be determined by a reference to the level of the sea ; but that 

 it does rise, is proved by very many phenomena which present 

 themselves within the coasts, and even in the very interior dC 

 Sweden. I shall advert to a few of these which are seen on the 

 Lake Maeler, and some of the inland waters around Stockholm. 

 This city stands at the head of an arm of the sea, about thirty 

 miles within the shores of the Baltic, and at the junction of its 

 waters with those of the lake Maeler. A small part of the lower 

 city, chiefly about the Skipsbro, is built upon piles. The se- 

 curity of the buildings thus supported depends upon the piles 

 being constantly under water ; but after a lapse of a term of 

 years some of them were observed to be giving way, and oa 

 searching for the cause, it was found that the sinking of the 

 waters had gradually left the tops of the piles bare, and exposed 

 them to decay. 



It is well known also, that several of the small peninsulas on 

 which the city or suburbs stand were formerly islands, and du- 

 ring the past summer two canals were in progress across two 

 narrow necks of land, for the purpose of reviving the communi- 

 cation which the gradual elevation of the land had long ago in- 

 terrupted. The Jlsketorp or fishing hut of Charles XI ? which 

 in former times stood close by the deep water, is still preserved 

 as a memorial of that monarch, though no longer near any spot 

 where his favourite amusement can be enjoyed. But one of the 

 most interesting examples, is presented by the beautiful lake 

 which skirts the woods and pleasure grounds of the palace of 

 Haga, in the northern suburbs of Stockholm. The position of 

 this lake shews that it has formerly communicated with the sea, 

 though now it is considerably above it, and entirely inland* 

 As the sea retired, this sheet of water would also have been 

 drained oflF, had it not been dammed up at the only outlet^ to 



