THE LAND IN CERTAIN PARTS OF SWEDEN. 



n 



Fig. 6. 



on the high road. The deposit is elevated only a few yards above Lake Maeler, 

 and is therefore about the same above the Baltic ; but the formation extends to 

 greater heights in this and adjoining low lands, as do associated beds of gravel and 

 sand, in which I could not detect any fossils. 



After viewing these geological phenomena, I was well inclined to receive favour- 

 ably any probable evidence brought forward to prove that the land has been rising 

 in recent times in the neighbourhood of Stockholm ; but I must confess that, on 

 close investigation, I was disappointed in finding that several of the proofs relied 

 on by some writers were very equivocal. Among other facts, it has been noticed 

 that the level of Lake Maeler has been lowered in very modern times ; and it is clear 

 that the waters of this lake would appear to fall, together with the sea, if there be a 

 general rise of the land, since Lake Maeler joins an arm, or fiord, of the Gulf of Both- 

 nia at Stockholm, the salt and freshwater meeting in the middle of the city. The lake 

 is generally three feet higher than the sea ; but the line of separation is not constant, 

 and when the Baltic rises very high, its waters flow for some miles into the lake. In 



that part of the town called the Rid- 

 darliolmen, immediately above where 

 the waters of the lake meet the sea, 

 (see Map, fig. 6.,) some of the buildings 

 have of late years become insecure, 

 because the level of Lake Maeler has 

 fallen, so that the piles on which the 

 buildings rest are not constantly under 

 water as of old. The tops of these 

 piles being now every year alternately 

 wet and dry, they are continually rot- 

 ting away. This fact is unquestionable ; and I saw the houses, which, in consequence 

 of this failure of support, are much rent, and out of the perpendicular. 



But during the time that this change has occurred, no corresponding fall has been 

 observed in the neighbouring quay, or Skeppsbron, which is filled with brackish 

 water, and which ought to have been equally affected on the supposition of a general 

 rise of the land ; and we naturally, therefore, inquire whether some particular circum- 

 stances have not of late years given a freer outlet to the waters of Lake Maeler, so 

 as to cause them to sink. Now several Swedish engineers remarked to me, that the 

 decay of the piles had taken place since the removal of the two old bridges in Stock- 

 holm, which being supported on a great number of wooden piles, obstructed the free 

 discharge of the lake, the waters of which now pour in a rapid and unbroken current 

 through the large arches of the new bridge ; and secondly, they observed that the 

 canal of Sodertelje has formed, since the year 1819, an entirely new line of commu- 

 nication, by which the waters of Lake Maeler have of late years flowed out into the 

 sea. Can any one doubt for a moment, that if the old bridge should be restored 



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