973 



topographical condilions, and do not always coincide with Ihe bo- 

 tanical; but Ihey mav be iised to a certain extent. 



Tbe steep cliffs are generally weatbered out in such a way tbat 

 veiiical scarps allernale with more or less horizontal shelves, the 



Fig. 183. The »Gjov« at Vestmanhavn. The bottom is filled with loose roeI<s, which conceal a small 



stream ; both sides are luxuriantly covered with piants; the foliag'e to the right is leaves o[ Angelica. 



(From photo. by E. Warming). 



profile as seen from the side being a zig-zag line resembling a rude 

 titanic stair. This surface-formation is due to the geological struc- 

 ture, layer upon layer of basalt. The projecting ledges are known 

 as »Hamre« and on the shelf of such a ledge, a certain amount of 

 soil and débris accumulates. If the amount of soil is small, the 

 shelf forms a rather flat cliff-terrace. With increasing amounts of 

 soil, etc, the surface of a shelf becomes more and more a short 



