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2. General Survey of Lakes chiefly zcorthi/ of Notice in different 

 Quarters of the World. 



THIS interesting branch of natural science extends so widely, and 

 is so captivating from the beauty and variety of the features it un- 

 folds to us, that it is difficult to comprise the present division within 

 due bounds. We shall limit it, however, to those lakes which pos. 

 sess somewhat of a general character, or at least whose character is 

 not so prominent a.s to be entitled to any peculiarity of delineation ; 

 and shall reserve a few of those of this last description for another 

 division. 



Asf A. 



In describing the most remarkable lakes wJu'ch are found in various 

 parts of the world, we shall begin with that large body of water which 

 is improperly called the CASPIAN SEA, as it has no visible connec- 

 tion with the ocean, nor does it ebb and flow ; but it is undoubtedly 

 the greatest lake in the eastern hemisphere of the globe. It is bounded 

 on the north by the country of the Calmuc Tartars, on the east by 

 Bacharia and part of Persia, on the south by another part of Per. 

 sia,and on the west by Persia and Circassia. It is situated between 

 364(/'and 47 north latitude, and between 47 50' and 5O east 

 longitude, and is about four hundred miles in length from north to 

 south, and three hundred in breadth from east to west ; but in many 

 places it is much narrower. The water is salt ; and, at some dis- 

 tance from the shore, Mr. Hanway endeavoured in vain to find a 

 bottom with a line of four hundred and fifty fathoms. The water has 

 risen, within the last half century, so considerably, that it has made 

 great inroads on the Russian side for several miles, both to the east 

 and west of the Volga, and has rendered the adjacent country ex- 

 tremely marshy. 



The lake BAIKAL, in Siberia, on the road between Moscow and 

 China, is of great extent from north to south, but narrow in breadth, 

 reaching from 51 to 55 north latitude. It abounds with sturgeon, 

 and that amphibious animal the seal. 



AFRICA. 



THR lake of DAMBEA, in Upper Ethiopia, is the only one worthy 

 of notice in this arid and sandy quarter of the world, and is called by 

 the natives the sea of Tzana, from the largest island in it. This lake 



