American Big-Game Hunting 
the general level of the inclosed table-land. 
Beyond the mountains the country falls away 
on all sides, the lowlands and valleys varying 
in altitude from 4000 to 6000 feet. The 
entire region stands out as a bold mountain 
mass, measuring approximately 75 miles in 
width by 60 miles in length, which rises high 
above the adjoining country. 
Although it is commonly so called, the 
central portion of this mass is not, strictly 
speaking, a plateau; at least it is by no means 
a level region, but an undulating country, 
broken by abrupt escarpments and long 
table-like ridges of gently inclined rocks. It 
is accidented by shallow depressions and 
valleys of varied outline, the irregularities of 
lava flows adding much to the diversity of 
surface forms and features: Deep cafions 
and gorges cut the plateau, and penetrate 
nearly to the base of the accumulated lavas. 
These nearly horizontal lavas rest against the 
steeper slopes of the encircling mountains. 
The foot-hills, in contrast with the plateau, 
afford a more broken character, the inter- 
montane valleys become deeper, the country 
gradually growing rougher until the higher 
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