GLACIERS OF NORWAY. 287 



valleys or the iiiouiituin gorges, and not even approaching the npper limit of 

 the pines."* The largest of these ice-fields is on the north slope of the 

 range, a few leagues southwest of Bogneres de Luclion. 



Our attention may next be turned to the Scandinavian Range, of which a 

 brief account will here be given, with special reference to the accumulations 

 of snow and ice by which it is partly covered. This region is of great im- 

 portance, because it has, in former times, been much more heavily occupied 

 by glaciers than it now is, as will be noticed farther on. 



The mountains of Norway rise quite directly and precipitously fx-om the 

 sea, along the whole extent of that countrv — a region of hia-h northern lati- 

 tude, since it extends to beyond the parallel of 73°. Situated as this range 

 is, in a position to receive the large jirecipitation resulting from the impact 

 of the prevailing westerly winds blowing across the ocean surface, and im- 

 pinging against the opposing precipitous mountain sides, it would be expected 

 that, if the elevation of the range were sufficient, glaciers would be exten- 

 sively developed over its higher portions, and this is. in fact, the case. 



The Scandinavian Range diflei's very much from the Alps, and still more 

 from the Pyrenees and Caucasus, in being throughout nearly its whole extent 

 broad and plateau-like on its summit. Its highest point, Galdhoppigen, 

 reaches an altitude of 8,400 feet; but the mean elevation of the water-shed 

 of the range is considerably less than that. It lacks therefore the altitude 

 necessary for the grandest development of the glacial masses. Along por- 

 tions of the coast, as about the Ilardangerfiord, the clifls rise very pre- 

 cipitously to the height of 5,500 feet above the water. In Nordland and 

 Tromso they reach 6.000 feet and over. The deep fiords which extend far 

 into the interior — sometimes to a distance of fully 200 miles — are a char- 

 acteristic feature of the countiy. 



In all Norway there are said to be twice as many square miles of surface 

 covered by ice and snow as there are under cultivation. IMore than two 

 thirds of the country are reckoned as " fjeld," — that is. high table-land, 

 not inhabitable, and much of it swampy. About one-fifth of the surface is 

 covered by forests ; and one-fiftieth belongs to the region of eternal snow 

 and ice. 



The glacial accumulations of the Scandinavian mountains aic somewhat 

 different from those of the Alps, a fact due — in part at least — to the 

 marked difference in the topography of the two ranges. In Norway a high 



* Hpniy Piusaell, in Aniuiairo du Club Aljiin Fiaiicais, PiTiiiii'Tp Aimee, p. I'.i. 



