364 P. Freuchen. 



however, that the filhng of the basin which is now in progress commenced, 

 two, or more hkely three years ago, plants of several (at least two) years' 

 growth being now found right down to the water's edge. It is hardly 

 likely that they would have been sown directly the water had subsided. 

 Three large rivers were now flowing out into the lake, the volume of 

 water in each case being so considerable as to render the channels pas- 

 sable only with difficulty, if at all, by wading. The dogs could not touch 

 bottom. In addition to these, there were also a number of smaller streams, 

 besides the water from the melting ice. During our stay in Adam Bierings 

 Land, however, (from 29th June to 11th July, i. e. 13 days) the water 

 of the lake rose only a little over 1 metre (118 cm.). This measurement, 

 which was, it must be confessed, somewhat uncertain, would give a rise 

 for the whole of the summer amounting to 5 metres. As the extent of 

 surface at highest water mark would be about twice the area covered 

 in 1912, the average annual rise after that year may be taken as %(5 + 5/2 

 metres. According to this, the lake should be filled by the year 1912 

 + 55 -^ 1/2 (5 + 5/2) = 1912 + 20 = 1932. The period during which 

 the lake is emptied may thus be reckoned as a quarter of a century. This 

 is naturally but a rough estimate; it serves, however, to give some idea 

 of the magnitude in question. 



In Valmuedalen, among the stranded icebergs, many holes and fur- 

 rows were noticeable in the earth, these being, despite a certain indistinct- 

 ness occasioned by their having been covered with water, evidently the 

 „footmarks" made by icebergs stranded during an emptying of the lake 

 previous to that which had last taken place. Whether these bergs had 

 since melted away, or had been carried off elsewhere during the sub- 

 sequent period of high water, the fact suffices to show that the water 

 must now and then reach its highest level or near it before flowing out. 



Valmuedalen, to which we then proceeded, is a big, broad valley 

 running out from the lower portion of Nyeboes Bræ into Adam Bierings 

 Land. There is no doubt that this must be the hollow which Peary 

 and Astrup looked out over in 1892 but without being able to see 

 down into it. The country rises again, however, a little farther in: 

 It is very fertile here, plains of clay alternating with level raised beaches 

 of gravel and pebbles. These were found up to a height of 400 metres. 

 At Bierings Varde also, we found similar stones at the foot of the rocks. 

 These pebbles, together with polished fragments of solid rock, were 

 found up to a certain sharply defined level, above which the rock was 

 rugged and pointed. Owing to continual rain, the actual height was 

 not measured. 



The great fertility of Valmuedalen, which in many places presents 

 the appearance of great stretches closely carpeted with yellow, is doubt- 

 less due to the fact that is is so well watered, there being, besides the 

 many large rivers, numerous smaller streams, with meadow and marshy 

 patches. The valley being very broad and level, and the hills sloping 



