CLIMATE. 47 



Down through the center of Florida runs a decided 

 ridge or backbone ; not mountainous, but rising gently 

 from the sea-coast on either side until the middle, running 

 north and south, is reached, and here at some points the 

 ''divide" is so sharp that the little streams taking their 

 rise in one of the small lakes will flow to the east on one 

 side and toward the wxst on the other. 



A phenomenon similar to this was witnessed by the 

 writer a few years ago on the summit of the high ridge 

 dividing the Isthmus of Panama. There is a space three 

 or four feet long where the water in the railroad drain lies 

 perfectly still, while at each end it flows rapidly in opposite 

 directions, one toward the Atlantic, the other toward the 

 Pacific Ocean. 



Crossing Florida's peninsula from east to west, or vice 

 versa, is like ascending gradually a series of terraces, the 

 one blending into the other, until a gently undulating 

 plateau is reached at the highest point, continuing for a 

 distance varying from six to twenty or more miles across, 

 and then commencing another terraced descent on the 

 other side. 



Probably the greatest elevation in Polk Count}^ which 

 is the highest in South -Florida, is not over but rather 

 under two hundred and thirty-five feet above the sea. 



Passing northward from South Florida we find the face 

 of the country gradually changing ; instead of the rolling 

 lands being the exception they become the rule ; and not 

 only so, but the undulations are more decided, real, genu- 

 ine " hills " being frequently found, for here, iii the vicinity 

 of the backbone of the State, is its greatest elevation, 

 about three hundred feet above the sea. 



While the general opinion prevails that " Florida is low," 

 very few are aware of the fact that her highest elevation 

 is also that of all the States on the Atlantic coast, their 



