ISi 1.] Limits of perpetual Snow in the North. 215 



ence, extended a German mile in breadth, in that case the snow 

 would never leave it, and we should probably see a glacier formed 

 upon its rugged declivity ; for the summit of this mountain is 

 elevated above the snow line. 



If we observe the heights northwards of the pass where the 

 snow begins to form a connected covering over the mountains, and 

 compare them with the known heiglit of Side-Tind, we find them 

 elevated about 5,200, or 5,300 feet above the level of the sea. 

 Such in this place is the limit of eternal snow : not quite 900 

 toiscs (5755 English feet). 



No glaciers are to be found in these mountains, nor in the 

 neighbourhood of Fillefieldt. For in order to form glaciers, the 

 mountains must run a much greater way into the snowy regions, 

 than these mountains do. Glaciers require prodigious masses of 

 ice, and a powerful pressure, in order to force the inferior parts of 

 the ice into the lower valleys. Such masses of ice do not exist in 

 those mountains whicli enclose the pass of Fillefieldt on the north 

 side. Still further towards the north these mountains sink lower 

 to a height not exceeding 4,500 feet: at that height there is a 

 kind of plain formed, divided by flat valleys, which extends seve- 

 ral German miles. It is called Aardalsfieldt, because it belongs to 

 the parish of Aardal in Sognejlord. 



This mountain plain, in the beginning of the last century, ac- 

 quired a sudden and wide celebrity. Men had 'the boldness to 

 commence a mine here above the clouds, and fine and rich pieces 

 of copper ore found upon the mountain had even interested go- 

 vernment in the success of the undertaking. It was necessary to 

 sink the shaft through the snow; but not for any great depth. 

 And instead of wood for the pits, which it would have been very 

 difficult to have brought up the sides of so steep a mountain, they 

 were under the necessity of employing ice. The water was allowed 

 to rise in the pits and to freeze : the ice was tlicn carried out, leaving 

 behind j)illars of it, by way of props, as there was no risk of its 

 melting.* This mine had extended some miles, from the moun- 

 tain to the foot of Horungn, a steep and high mountain above the 

 pass of Sogntficldt, whicli separates the provinces of Guldhrand'idal 

 and Sogn froin each other. But the irregular distriioution of the 

 ore, and the difficulty of procuring it, soon put an end to the fond 

 hopes of the projectors ; and now nothing remains of the success 

 of the undertaking, except the remembrance of the mountaineers ; 

 and some magnificent specimens of variegated copper ore, native 

 copper, malachite, and native silver, in the Royal Cabinet of 

 Mmerals in Copenhagen, and in some other Cabinets in Germany. 



IT. 



Farther south, and (juitc separate from the Stnrficldt, there lies 

 in the 50th degree of latitude a high mountain covered with eternal 

 wjow, deep in the interior of the province of Ilurdangcr; but, like 



* Dcic'limnnn Kungl. Viilcmk. Scbknps SkriTUT. xi. 148. 



