48 THE ANCHORAGE. 



novelty of the scene, and the grandeur of the 

 various objects with which Nature has stored 

 these unfrequented regions. 



The anchorage is bounded by rugged moun- 

 tains, which rise precipitously to the height of 

 about three thousand feet. Deep valleys and 

 glens occur between the ranges, the greater part 

 of which are either filled with immense beds of 

 snow, or with glaciers, sloping from the summits 

 of the mountainous margin to the very edge of 

 the sea. Owing to the westerly direction of 

 these ranges, and the precipitancy with which 

 they rise, the sun never shines upon the south- 

 ern shore of the bay, with the exception of a 

 few hours about midnight during the height of 

 summer, and then only at a very low altitude ; 

 whereas its rays are exerted with the fullest 

 effect upon the northern shore, which occasion- 

 ally radiates a heat of 57 or 60 degrees. There 

 is, consequently, the most marked difference 

 between the sides of the bay, both in point of 

 climate and general appearance ; for while, on 

 the one, perpetual frost is converting into ice 

 the streams of water occasioned by the thawing 

 snow upon the upper parts of the mountains 

 which are exposed to the sun's rays, the other 

 side is relieving itself of its superficial winter 

 crust, and refreshing a vigorous vegetation with 

 its moisture. 



