l6o FHIFiTjOI- XA.N.SKN. M.-N. Kl. 



'J'o ]]\v il siHiiis iiiosl |)r<.l)al)lr lli.il llicsc fcalurcs in tin- l'ijjo^^raijhy 

 of llic suhmcrt^c'l si rand flal of these two jilaU-aus are rlue to tliL- sj.ecial 

 slructure of llie .gneiss foiinni;; tlieiii. 'i'lie facl thai at least some of the 

 sul)inef,mil cliannels ha\e more or less ])araliel 'lirections may also iiKÜcate 

 their ilepenileiice on the structure ot the rock. 



It ma}- be pointed out that on Moskeuesoi lo the north-east, there is 

 a siiuilar (Hfference between the coasts, the inner, eastern coast of the 

 island heiiiq- indeiiteij 1)\ fjords aiKJ dissected by \alleys. while ajonj^ the 

 outer, western coast there are no fjorrls, and the coast is very steep with 

 an almost continuous mountain-rid!L;"e alon.L;' this side of the island [cf. 

 d h. \ i)o-t, i()i2, [""i^. I I j. ddie fjords and \allevs of this island are cirques 

 or cir(|ue vallex's sculptured b\ local cir(|ue f^laciers. The ex])lanation that 

 the absence of fjords along the outer coast of Moskeuesoi is due to the 

 fact that this coast has been cut back by tlie marine flenurlation is hardly 

 satisfactory, because we mi^ht then at least expect to find traces of the 

 deej) fjords on the submerged platform outsirle the coast. 



If the difference in the topography of the two Cfjasts cannot be ex- 

 plained b\- differences in the structure of the rocks, I think it probal)le 

 that the meteorological conditions may have been more favourable for 

 the formation of cirque glaciers and for tlie cir(|ue ercjsion on the south- 

 eastern and eastern side of the initial land than on its outer, western 

 and north-western side. 



The strandfiat of Moskeuesoi is entireh' fiiffercnt from that of the 

 \''æroi and Rost Plateaus. This may to some considerable extent be due 

 to the difference in the rocks, which are very resistant, consisting of 

 monzonite (augite-syenite), ga])l)ro, and labradorite rocks. As pointed 

 out by Th. \ ogt, a narrow but well marked emerged straiulflat occurs in 

 several places along the inner, eastern coast of the island, e. g. at A, Sør- 

 våg, and Reine, and on its northern side, at Mevold and \'alle. But alorg 

 the outer, western coast there are liardly any indications of an emerged 

 straiulflat, the mountains falling steeply into the sea. 



In the case of the submerged strand flat it is quite different; there 

 are hardly any indications of it along the inner coast of the island, the sea 

 bottom sloping without any appreciable break from the coast towards the 

 deep hollow of the Vest Fjord. Outside the outer coast there is. however. 

 a submerged platform, which at least in some places lias a fairlv well- 

 marked edge. But the depths of this p.latform and of its outer edge are 

 as a rule much greater than those of the submerged strandfiat of Helge- 

 land. In some places there are somewhat higher banks on the platform, 

 with^depths of about 20 to 28 metres below sea-level, but to a great extent 

 its depths arc al)out 35 to 40 metres or even more. In some places the 

 surface of tlie platform slopes gradually from the coast to the depths of 

 the continental shelf without anv noticeable edce. 



