84 



FORKM' DISTRIBUTION 



Flathead Mountains. The Cabinet Range rises, especially at 

 Mem end to heights of 8000 to 9000 feet, rugged and pic- 

 turesque. The Flathead Mountains are lower. In the bend of 

 the Kootenai lies the I'mvell range, only its southern end reach- 

 ing into Montana. The range is fairly even in height except 

 a uroiip o!' sharp summits which rise to 7500 feet near the south- 

 ern end of the chain. 



Table r_>. The Forests of the Kootenai Section. 



Most nf the Kootenai section is heavily forested. In the 

 narrower valleys, on low flats and about lakes are suitable con- 

 ditions I'm- the while pint-, arbor vitae, grand fir and hemlock, 

 on sonic of the upper benches are extensive pure stands of Indge- 

 polc pine, sometimes of young larch. The hills are often cov- 

 ered with open LTl'owths of yellow pine. 



The fifth, or Flathead Section, covers the drainage of the 

 Flathe.-id li'iver. including the North, Middle and South Forks 

 and the Swan river. It extends its northern line (i() miles alnn<_: 

 the Canadian boundary and reaches south ISO miles to the 

 extreme sources ( ,f the South Fork. Its western margin joins 



the K< oten;ii Seeti-.ll. its extern follows tile crest (if the ('oilti- 



ncntal hivide. It includes a part <-f (Jlacier National Park. 

 The Klathead Section is one ( ,f the m.isi significant of Montana, 

 both in its tnpn-raphy and its vegetation. It includes several 

 hiirh and mountain ranges, some of them bearing -la- 



