BAFFIN LAND. 77 



rurming from east to west. The long peninsulas extending far into the sea and the shoals 

 adjoining them, are an interesting feature of the east coast of BafEu Land. These consist 

 of granite hills and banks of gravel at their basis. It is very probable that they originated 

 during a period of glaciation, when ice streams flowed from the deep valleys of River 

 Clyde, Ijelirtuug and Home Bay, and the peninsulas projecting between the bays into 

 the sea separated these glaciers. At the present time, only the highest parts of the Baffin 

 Bay range and Meta Incognita are covered with ice. In Frobisher Bay and Home Bay 

 small glaciers reach the sea. But signs of former glaciation are not wanting. Dr. Bell 

 describes those of Hudson Strait ; the low rounded hills of the islands of Cumberland 

 Sound, the striae in the valleys of the peninsula, and the peculiar form of valleys observed 

 on the hilly land, are ample evidence of the existence of an extensive icecap during a 

 former period. 



The plains of Baffin Land are occupied by two large lakes, Nettilling and Amaqdjuaq 

 which are drained by Koukdjuaq River. The watershed between Fox Basin and Davis 

 Strait lies here only two miles from Cumberland Sound. The eastern part of Nettilling 

 lies in the hilly region and is dotted with islands, while the greater portion lies in the 

 limestone area. The surplus of water that these lakes receive during the warm season 

 is sufficient to feed their outlet throughout the winter. The study of rivers running 

 throughout the winter in arctic regions is of some importance. While travelling to 

 Nettilling in March, 1884, I found the outlet open of the small lake, Amitoq, and thick 

 clouds of fog rising from its surface. It seemed remarkable that this small basin had a 

 sufficient volume of water to feed the rivulet throughout the winter without receiving 

 any additions from tributaries or sources, the more so as the outlets of other larger lakes 

 cease to run in October or November. In districts without lakes, the volume of water car- 

 ried by rivers is decreasing rapidly as soon as the frosts set in. The roaring torrents 

 become very small in the beginning of October, and even the large river which drains the 

 whole of Nugumiut Peninsula freezes to the bottom in winter. A comparison of the 

 known facts shews that lakes with a large drainage area and a small outlet have open 

 outlets in winter, while those with small drainage areas have too small a supply of water 

 to feed these outlets all the year round. A rough calculation shews that the volume of 

 water running through the outlet of Amitoq during the winter would lower its level 

 about three feet, and that during the warm season it would rise the same amount. It is 

 not necessary to suppose the occurrence of strong springs in order to explain the existence 

 of rivers which are open throughout the winter. In some places, however, hot springs are 

 found in Baffin Land. These shew peculiar phenomena in winter. At a short distance 

 from the spring, the water has cooled sufficiently and begins to freeze. A new stream 

 runs over the frozen one, and thus a large and thick layer of ice is formed, sloping down 

 towards the valley from the spring. On Cumberland Peninsula I observed one of these 

 springs the ice of w^hich covered about three acres. Smaller springs produce beautiful 

 blue cones of ice with deep fissures, through which the water rises to the surface. 



It is a well known fact, that erosion in arctic regions is very limited, while the 

 rocks are rapidly disintegrated by this process of freezing. The torrents of highlands 

 and those rushing down the steep edges of the plateau, have eroded deep valleys, but 

 wherever lakes occur, the detritus is deposited and the clear water of the outlets has little 

 effect on its bed. Only in a few valleys, have rivers cut through the ridges forming 

 the terraces, and after draining the lakes, formed a bed of uniform grade. 



