26 



WITH SCOTT: THE SILVER LINING 



latitude (44°), but there the snowline is at 8000 feet, so that 

 to get an adequate comparison of the two Alpine regions 

 one must add on 3000 feet to the European peaks. Or, put 

 in another way, there is as much snow scenery on Mount 

 Cook (12,349) as on the Matterhorn (14,780), one of the 

 highest peaks in Europe. It is a striking example, illustrat- 

 ing the fact that the southern hemisphere is, on the whole, 

 ten degrees colder than the northern. For both Alpine lands 

 are, as is said above, about 44 latitude. If we use the 

 accepted factor of i Q F. decrease in temperature for 300 feet 

 ascent, we see that ten degrees difference in temperature would 

 alter the snowline 3000 feet, as is actually the case. 



The Mount Cook region forms an interesting stage in 

 glacial development between Antarctica and the Kosciusko 



"Murchison Gf 



Braided sfreAr 



The Snout" oP ffO? 



"TdStnafl G/aci'er 



A-o-kh Seb^LStbpol 



191110 



region in Australia. Later we shall see what are the appear- 

 ances where the snowline reaches sea-level — -just north of the 

 Antarctic Circle. As we reach the Tasman valley draining the 

 Mount Cook area, we are struck by several peculiarities in 

 the scenery. There are no spurs projecting into the broad 

 main valley, but each of the valley walls lies in one plane to a 

 much greater degree than in normal valleys. Perched up on 

 the high slopes are little hanging valleys, from which small 

 streams cascade to the broad main valley. Along the slopes 

 are lines of debris, like wandering railway lembankments, 

 which (though a thousand feet above the present river) mark 

 the height of the ancient glaciers. These latter carved the 

 undercut cliffs and left the tributary valleys up in the air. 

 These signs are not wanting in the Australian glacial region, 



