280 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE CHAP, vm 



In such a case the rivers would tend to 

 radiate with more or less regularity from the 

 centre or axis of the dome, as, for instance, 

 in our English lake district (Fig. 37). Der- 

 went Water, Thirlmere, Coniston Water, and 

 Windermere, run approximately N. and S. ; 

 Crummock Water, Loweswater, and Butter- 

 mere N.W. by S.E.; Waste Water, Ullswater, 

 and Hawes Water N.E. by S.W. ; while 

 Ennerdale Water lies nearly E. by W. Can 

 we account in any way, and if so how, for 

 these varied directions? 



The mountains of Cumberland and West- 

 moreland form a more or less oval boss, the 

 axis of which, though not straight, runs 

 practically from E.N.E. to W.S.W., say from 

 Scaw Fell to Shap Fell ; and a sketch map 

 shows us almost at a glance that Derwent 

 Water, Thirlmere, Ullswater, Coniston Water, 

 and Windermere run at right angles to this 

 axis ; Ennerdale Water is just where the boss 

 ends and the mountains disappear; while 

 Crummock Water and Waste Water lie at 

 the intermediate angles. 



So much then for the direction. We have 



