42 Appendix. 



gradually toward the ocean. The latter is so shoal as to be dan- 

 gerous for vessels for a long distance off the coast. From the 

 coast inwards the land abounds in lagoons, inlets, lakes, all 

 shallow. The evidence of this character is supported by the 

 statement of Howorth (Nature, V., 163) that parts of the coast 

 described by Beechey as cliffs, are now separated from the water 

 by low flats. 



As to other circum polar lands, Reclus states that the southern 

 end of Greenland is sinking, and then quotes Hayes to the effect 

 that the northern end is rising along with GrinnelPs Land. 

 Hayes noticed sea beaches on these coasts that had been raised to 

 the height of 100 feet. He also noticed that the rocky headland 

 cliffs were polished by ice up to this height. 



Going westward, Dall states that the eastern coast of Siberia 

 is rising. Howorth quotes Wrangel and others to show that the 

 northern coast of Siberia is rising. Drift wood is found 12 feet 

 above the level of the sea, and large birch logs are scattered over 

 some of the northern plains 3 north of any known Siberian 

 forest. The coasts are low and flat, and a line of high ground, 

 parallel with the sea coast, and representing a former beach, lies 

 a few versts inland. Whales have deserted that part of the 

 Arctic waters since the i8th century, probably owing to their 

 shoaling. The Tundra or great Siberian plain is coated with fine 

 sand like that on the coast now. Where Sanypcheff found com- 

 paratively deep water in 1787, are now found shoals and banks. 



As to the Scandinavian Peninsula, the evidence is voluminous 

 and positive. Not only, as Sir Charles Lyell has said, are Swe- 

 den and Norway rising, but the northern end is rising more 

 rapidly than the southern. The evidence is given at consider- 

 able length in Lyell's "Principles of Geology." 



Spitzbergen is also being elevated. Reclus gives the evi- 

 dence that the islands of this group generally exhibit a series of 

 beaches up to a height of 147 feet, with bones of whales and 

 recent shells. 



Alaska comes in, then, with her share of evidence for the 

 theory, broached by Howorth, that the Arctic lands are rising. 



