284 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS: GEOGRAPHY. 



anywhere within the present limits of the United States, displaying the 

 same or similar conditions, every acre of it would, within a period of five 

 years, be occupied by prosperous farmers and that it would, within a 

 period of ten years, support a population of not less than fifty thousand 

 persons, with prosperous towns connected with the coast by an efficient 

 railway and telegraph service. The same period would suffice to build 

 a railway from the present terminus of the Neuquen Railway in the north 

 to the source of the Santa Cruz River, which would open up all the rich 

 tract of country along the base of the southern Andes, and give an all- 

 rail connection between southern Patagonia and Buenos Aires. This 

 would result in the greatest benefit, not only to Patagonia, but to the 

 Argentine people and government and some day, in the rather remote 

 future, I fear, it is sure to become an accomplished fact. Then, and not 

 until then, will this region enter upon a period of substantial development. 



Summary. 



The principal geographic and topographic features of southern Pata- 

 gonia, together with the chief factors which have contributed to their 

 formation, may be summarized as follows : 



The attention of the traveller in Patagonia, if he approaches from the 

 east coast, is first attracted to the long line of cliffs, that everywhere 

 on this coast rise boldly from the sea, to a height of from 300 to 500 

 feet. While still far out at sea, this is discernible to the experienced eye 

 of the navigator, though to the landsman it may appear as a low cloud or 

 fog-bank, to either of which illusions its usually unbroken summit and 

 dull gray colors freely lend themselves. As the vessel approaches some 

 one of the few harbors of this coast, commonly located at the mouths of 

 rivers, its true nature soon becomes apparent, and it develops as a great 

 sea wall stretching far away on either hand, until lost in the northern 

 and southern horizons. This line of bluffs extends along the entire 

 eastern coast of Patagonia, with but occasional interruptions at the mouths 

 of the few rivers that, flowing eastward from the Andes across the plains, 

 discharge their waters into the Atlantic. 



The rocks forming the cliffs consist of alternating layers of sandstones 

 and clays, approximately, though not entirely, horizontal, of a prevailing 

 light brown or gray color, and everywhere remarkably free from any faults 

 or other disturbances. Although the color and lithological characters of 



