A^. 



THE ELEVATION OF ARCTIC REGIONS. 



During my year's stay in tlie Territory of Alaska, I picked 

 up some evidence of the gradual elevation of the land going on 

 at this time. I will first give that seen by myself, and then refer 

 to the proofs of upheaval, of which I was told while there, or 

 which I have found already recorded. 



Amaknak Island is about two miles long by one broad, and 

 lies in Captain's Harbor, a deep indentation in the northern end 

 of Unalaska, one of the largest of the Aleutian Islands. Amak- 

 nak is composed of three or four distinct masses of hills or ridges 

 connected by stretches of lowlands which are nearly level, and 

 not more than 30 feet above the level of high water. The south- 

 ernmost of these level stretches shows a distinct and fine series 

 of elevated beaches. They are six in number, and from east to 

 west each one is rather higher than the one next to it. The east- 

 ernmost one is quite short, extending from a point of rocks on 

 the northern wall. It reaches out to the quiet water on the 

 eastern side of the neck. It is about 10 feet higher than the 

 next, a much greater difference than between any other two 

 successive beaches. When this beach was formed, the hill-masses 

 between which it lies were distinct islands. It was not until the 

 fourth beach was formed that the strait was entirely closed. 



The east side of the lowland just described borders a land- 

 locked passage of water. It shelves gradually down to the water's 

 edge. There is never more surf on its beach than there would 

 be on that of an inland lake half a mile across. On the opposite 

 side, however, a heavy surf comes in, and a section of the beaches 



