470 THE VALLEY OF THE UPPER ENGADINE. 



until they pass over the falls into the rocky gorge 

 below St. Moritz, and out into the lower levels beyond. 

 This rock-cut gorge is a fine example of the excavat- 

 ing power of swiftly running water, and shows where 

 the river has already burst its way through the high 

 divide which originally existed at this point. Near its 

 exit from this gorge it is joined by another stream 

 proceeding from the Bernina chain, which as it passes 

 below the village of Pontresina, affords a good though 

 minor example of another form of channel, in the deep 

 canon with perpendicular walls which the stream has 

 cut in the solid rock at that point. The visitor to 

 these parts will however probably have had the oppor- 

 tunity of seeing the splendid example of the canon on 

 the Albula river, while crossing the pass of that name. 

 The spot we refer to is situated just above the village 

 of Alvaneu, where the road for more than a thousand 

 feet is hewn or blasted out of the face of the cliff, 

 with the torrent roaring at a depth of 500 or 600 feet 

 below. * But enhanced as these European examples 

 of rock gorges are by the undoubtedly beautiful scenery 

 by which they are surrounded, when regarded as 

 examples of the errosive force of water, or as specimens 

 of great rock- worn river channels only, they of course 

 fall very far behind other examples of the same kind 

 which are to be seen in many other parts of the world, 

 less well known to the British tourist. As a vast 

 system of lakes forming mighty reservoirs in connec- 

 tion with a great river system, the world can show 

 nothing at all to compare with the great lakes dividing 

 Canada and the United States, which find their exit 



* Murray's Handbook for Switzerland, Route 93 Coire to Samaden: 

 in the Engadine. 



