CLIMATIC. 75 



between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Gulf of Mexico and the 

 Arctic ocean. Its average elevation is 1,275 feet above the sea-level, the 

 highest land in the great continental trough between the Gulf of Mexico 

 and Hudson's Bay. 



OUR DEPENDENCE. 



Whatever humidity may be projected toward us from the Atlantic and 

 Pacific oceans is largely intercepted and drained by the Alleghanies and 

 Rockies, and such winds come to us dry. The winds from the Gulf of 

 Mexico and the Arctic ocean encounter comparatively slight obstructions 

 as they sweep over the continental trough. When these collide over us 

 if those from the poles are not too dry to dissipate the moisture precipita- 

 tion may ensue. 



PRECIPITATION FORTUITOUS. 



Our average precipitation is twenty-five inches. Countries near the sea 

 have uniform temperature and therefore more regularity of precipitation, 

 but in a continental climate like ours there are so many agencies at work, 

 precipitation is fortuitous, and yet acts, of course, under irrevocable laws. 

 Were there nothing of a local nature to intercept and tone down our 

 winds, the state and entire plain west of it would have the characteristics 

 of the steppes of Russia, barren, dreary and uninhabitable, save here and 

 there by groups of hungry wolves and clumps of coarse grasses in the burn- 

 ing sands. 



THE AIR ON HIGH PLAINS. 



All vast, high plains have dry, hot or cold winds, as illustrated on the 

 central plains of Asia, in the pampas and llanos of South America, in the 

 heaths of Germany and the lands of France. Climatic differences always 

 are related to differences in land elevations. Scientists estimate that an 

 elevation of 350 feet will lower the temperature equal one degree of latitude 

 or seventy geographic miles poleward. In round numbers our average lat- 

 itude is 46 degrees; our average elevation is 1,275 feet; then, outside of the 

 modifying influences of environment, our average climate corresponds with 

 that of about 50 degrees north latitude on the level of the sea. 



OUR MODIFIED CLIMATE. 



But our climate is far from what the rule mathematically warrants. 

 Considering latitude and elevation, we have a luxuriance of flora. Though 

 subject to sudden extremes of heat and cold, and severe storms when they 

 come, even our hottest days have compensative forces, and our coldest are 

 electric and bracing-up to energy. Our nights are cool; our skies clear and 

 so our waters. Taken as a whole, our Northwest climate is superb. To 

 what cause or causes shall we attribute this remarkable feature of Minne- 

 sota? 



OUR HIGH LANDS. 



In a general sense Minnesota is an undulating plain, but it has its special 

 high lands, hill ranges, clustered knobs, Leaf Mountains, Sawteeth, Mesabi 

 and Giant ranges. Our mountains in the northeast angle of the state rise 



