1896.] 



on Cable Laying on the Amazon River. 



219 



temperature of such a body of water cannot be seriously affected by 

 the daily variations of temperature indicated by the first two curves. 

 It is extremely difficult to realise the true proportions of this river, 

 but the comparative table, in which the dimensions of the principal 

 rivers of the various continents are contrasted with those of the 

 Amazon, will help to show the importance of this great system of 

 natural waterways. 



Name. 



Mississippi . . 

 La Plata .. 

 St. Lawrence 

 Nile .. .. 

 Volga .. 

 Danube 

 Khine .. 

 Thames 

 Amazon 



Square Miles. 



Area of Great Britain and Ireland 120,626 



„ British India 1,560,160 



„ Brazil 3,219,000 



„ Europe 3,790,000 



With several other large rivers, the Amazon shares the fate that 

 its name changes several times during its long course, and that at 

 various times different affluents have been considered to be the 

 true source of the main stream. Most geographers, however, regard 

 the Maraiion as the principal river, a branch of which, called 

 Tunguragua, rises in Lake Lauricocha, in Peru, in 10° 30' S. lat., and 



1 To source of Missouri, 4300 miles. ^ At Saratoff. 



^ Exclusive of tributaries. * At Teddington. 



^ To sources of Apurimac, 3415 miles. 



6 According to Dr. John Murray. 



^ According to Darby, the American hydrographer. 



* According to Dr. Lauro Sodre. 



