SCIENTIFIC RESULTS 



91 



4 feet per day. Many of the <:reat (Treenland <rlaciers. in other 

 wonls. move ten to fifteen times faster than tliose in the Alps. 

 About four times a month (hirin*r the summer, usually accompanyino; 

 sprino; tides. 800 to 1,000 feet of the fjord end break oil in o;reat 

 calvin<!;s: Dry<ralski (1895. p. 401) estimates that the output of 

 Great Karajak is approximately 15.3 cubic kilometers per year, and 

 we have estimated the annual number of sizable berjis calved as ap- 

 proximately 1.200. This fifTiire is believed to be conservative, but, 

 of course, somewhat sj^eculative althou<jfh it can be hardly over 25 per 

 cent in error. 



JACOIiSHAVX FJORD AND GLACIER 



Jacobshavn is one of the best known and interestino; of all Green- 

 land's jjlaciers. The Mitrion, in August, 1U28, cruised in amono-st the 



Jacobshavn Glacier 



Fi(;ri{E .")1. — Jacobshavn (ilaoit'i-. located on the west coast of Greenland, is estimated 

 to discharge annually 1.850 sizal)le icebergs info Disko Bay. It is one of the most 

 productive iceberg gfaciers in tlie world. The position of the front wall is shown 

 from 1S.50 to 19<Kl. Recent observations indicate a general retreat of many of the 

 glaciers in this section of Greenland. (After Hammer and EngoU.) 



ber<rs that clofrjfed the mouth of the fjord: as those within were 

 joined so closely together that not even a ship's boat could pass be- 

 tween them. We had another view of these bergs when we landed 

 at Jacobshavn and crossed the hills to look down from a height into 

 the fjord itself. Jacobshavn Fjord is a more or less straight trough- 

 like depression. })ossibly a rift valley. 3 to 4 miles in width and 

 extending inland a distance of 15 miles where it meets the high front 

 of the glacier. As far as the eye could see in the fjord icebergs 

 were ])acked tightly row in)on row. a majestic procession marching 

 toward the open sea. It is estimated that on August 9. 10'28, 4.000 

 to 0.000 bergs. 8 or 4 years supply, perhaps more, which had calved 

 from the glacier front, lay in the Jacobshavn Fjord. 



At uncertain intervals. ai)proximately ten times a year, and with- 

 out warniiiiT. so sav the natives, this iceberg train moves. It starts 



