294 METEOROLOGY IN RUSSIA. 



eis iurnisli ns also means of distinguisliiug tbe Enroi>eau climate from 

 that of tbe Pacific slope. All great rivers of European Eussia, as also 

 tbe Obi and Jeuissei, have one inincipal Hood in tbe year, after tbe melt- 

 ing of tbe winter snow. Tbe rise of water is more or less protracted, 

 owing to tbe climate and extent of tbe basin, so tbat tbebigbest stage 

 of water is reacbed as late as tbe 15tb of June by tbe Volga at Astra- 

 chan, owing to tbe late melting of tbe snow on tbe western slopes of 

 the Ural and tbe enormous distance tbe water has to pass from thence 

 to Astracban. 



Tbe summer rains are not long enough continued, and too local to 

 have great influence on tbe rivers. 



Tbe Angara Eiver, tributary of the Jenissei, does not rise generally 

 in spring, the quantity of snow falling there being too small. But 

 sometimes the river and Lake Baikal, which it traverses, rise very high 

 in summer. Tbe Amoor has. also no great Hood, due to tbe melting of 

 snow, but rises very high sometimes in summer. The disastrous flood 

 of 1872 will long be remembered by the inhabitants of tbe country. 

 Tlie rivers of China have also floods, due to the si)ring and summer 

 rains, and, like all rivers in such condition, their floods are very disas- 

 trous and irregular. 



The Caucasian provinces, though of sniall extent, show great diifereu- 

 oes in the quantity and character of their rains. South of the principal 

 chain we must distinguish three principal belts: (1) tbat ot the eastern 

 coast of the Black Sea, a country of very copious ijrecipitation. It in- 

 cludes Mingrelia, Imeretia, Guria, antl Abchasia, being bounded on 

 tbe northeast by tbe principal chain of tbe Caucasus, and on tbe east 

 by tbe Suram Mountains, separating Imeretia from Grusia. xlbout 60 

 inches fall in tbe year, which is tolerably well distributed, the maxima 

 l)eing in June and December. A warm climate and copious rains pro- 

 duce a rank, luxurious vegetation, having some features of that of the 

 tropics. Climbing plants are especially favored by the climate, and tbe 

 trees of Central Europe attain immense dimensions. (2.) Grusia has a 

 less rainy climate, tbe maximum falling in May. Irrigation is found 

 much necessary in the valleys, while tbe mountain-sides, from 2,000 to 

 5,000 feet high, are clad with forests. Tbe maximum of rain-fall in May 

 is strongly marked, this month at Tiflis having also tbe greatest number 

 of rainy days and the greatest amount of cloud. On the higher plateau 

 of Armenia, 4,800 feet. May is also the rainiest month, as it is due north 

 of tbe Caucasian chain at Alagir. (3.) The western shores of the 

 Caspian have sub-tropical rains — that is, the greatest quantity falls in 

 autumn and winter, while the summer is decidedly dry. The distribu- 

 tion is nearly tbe same along all this shore, while the quantity varies 

 much ; Lenkoran, for example, has more than 50 inches, while Baku has 

 only 10. The vapor coming from the Caspian, places having mountains 

 to the westward receive copious rains. Lenkoran has a similar position, 

 the Talysh Mountains rising from 5,000 to 7,000 feet due west of the 



