Us? 



ICONONZO IN THE CORDILLERAS. 



The chain of the Andes in South America presents many striking 

 natural phenomena in the immense clefts which separate two contiguous 

 masses of mountains, and in some instances are near five thousand feet 

 deep. The valley of Icononzo is less remarkable for its dimensions than 

 for the extraordinary form of its rocks, which seem as if they were 

 fashioned by the hand of man. Their naked and arid summits form a 

 most picturesque contrast with the tufts of trees and herbaceous plants 

 which cover the bottom of the crevasses or clefts. A little torrent has 

 made itself a way through the valley, and lies sunk in a channel, which 

 is so difficult of approach, that the river would hardly be passable if 

 nature herself had not formed two bridges of rock, which are justly 

 regarded as the greatest curiosity in that country. Humboldt and 

 Bonpland crossed these natural bridges in 1801, on their route from 

 Bogata to Quito. This natural arch is about forty-seven and a half feet 

 long, forty-one and a half wide, and about eight feet thick in the centre. 

 By careful experiments made on falling bodies, with the assistance of a 

 good chronometer, combined with the measurement obtained by a 

 plummet, it appears that the height of the upper of the two natural 

 bridges above the level of the torrent, is about three hundred and 

 thirteen feet. Sixty feet below the first natural bridge, there is another, 

 formed by three enormous masses of rock, which have fallen in such a 

 way as to support one another. The centre rock forms the key of the 

 arch. ,, 



ROCK BRIDGE AT VIRGINIA, N. A. 



There is an extensive range of mountains in this State, which is called 

 the Blue Ridge ; near the small town of Harper's Ferry the mountains 

 rise on each side very abruptly, and their faces have a rugged and 

 shattered appearance. Over the small stream, in the upper part of the 

 great Valley of Shenandoah, is that splendid natural curiosity the 

 Rock Bridge. It is a noble arch of one solid mass of stone, somewhat 

 curved in its highest part, and almost like the work of man. The same 

 native rock forms on each side the supports of this enormous arch, which 

 is said to be about eighty feet wide near the top ; at the level of the 

 water the width is only forty feet. The whole height from the outer top 



