MODIFIED DRIFT ALONG CONNECTICUT RIVER. 21 



sides, is usually a half to a mile and a half wide. It is very simple, hav- 

 ing two heights, and consists of the present flood-plain, bordered by 

 remnants of that which filled the valley in the Champlain period. The 

 former is about ten feet above low water, being annually overflowed by 

 the floods of spring. This would be called bottom-land in the western 

 United States. In New England it is commonly termed mterval; but 

 along Connecticut river it is frequently known as meadow. On all our 

 large rivers this lowest terrace has a firm and well-drained surface, much 

 different from the marshy areas bordering small streams to which the 

 name meadoiv is restricted in other parts of the state. It is the most 

 valuable portion of these alluvial lands, having a more finely-pulverized 

 and more fertile soil than that of the higher terraces. The ancient flood- 

 plain is here represented by a lateral terrace, from 40 to 120 feet above 

 the river, usually remaining at both sides, and in many places forming 

 considerable plains. 



From West Stewartstown to Colebrook the only alluvium of impor- 

 tance on the New Hampshire side is the interval ; but small remnants of 

 the upper terrace are found, especially where there is a tributary stream. 

 On the Vermont side the upper terrace, composed of sand or fine gravel, 

 is usually well shown, having a nearly constant but small elevation of 40 

 to 60 feet above the river, with which it slopes. It appears that this 

 formerly had possession of the whole valley, and that the channelling of 

 the river has swept it away from the area now occupied by the interval 



or meadows. Portions of ° 



6 o. v§ sJ; 2 j^ ^" 

 it still remain, entirely sur- 2 2 22^22 ^^g, e. 



rounded by the low flood- ^^' ^ '^ ^ — S^T^^'^'Z^^ '°°°^^' 



plain. Such a plateau may ^ig. i.— Section in Canaan and Stewartstown. 

 be seen in Canaan, nearly Length, | of a mile, 



opposite the south line of Stewartstown. The upper terrace and its 

 isolated remnant have both a height of 40 feet above the river, while the 

 lower level is only 1 5 feet in height. North-east from this in Stewarts- 

 town a rivulet has effected a like result on a small scale in the meadow, 

 cutting a channel wholly around a small area which still preserves the 

 height of the rest of the meadow. 



Karnes. At Colebrook we find an interesting gravel ridge or kame, 

 portions of which remain north of the junction of Beaver brook and 



