DEPRESSED COAST 305 



regularities which lie below the water level are filled 

 with water and the shore line bends seaward around the 

 projecting elevations and landward into the gullies and 

 valleys. Isolated elevations surrounded by land low 

 enough to be covered by the inflowing water have now 

 become islands. 



The river valleys which crossed the region now sub- 



A NORWAY FIORD. 



merged reveal themselves only to the sounding line, their 

 landward extensions forming estuaries up which the tide 

 sweeps far into the land. Their unsubmerged portions con- 

 tain fresh- water streams, the size of which seems insignifi- 

 cant when compared to the size of the estuary. Sheltered 

 coves and harbors abound, affording protection to all kinds 

 of crafts and fitting these coasts to be of great commercial 

 importance. 



The harvest of the sea replaces what might have been 



