VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS OF NORWAY. 241 



eventually assumes the same green appearance, and 

 thus continues till it enters the Miosen at Lillehammer, 

 in fact, colouring the water of the lake for some little 

 distance below its debouchure. The Otta Elv rises in 

 the glaciers on the Lang Fjeld, and is at first of a 

 milky appearance, and is opaque ; but when the silicious 

 matter with which it is laden is deposited, it assumes a 

 bright sea-green colour, and becomes transparent. 



The ultimate transparency of the water is even more 

 remarkable than is its assuming a green colour. 



In the upper parts of the Orinoco a similar phe- 

 nomenon was observed by Humboldt, where the water 

 in several of the small tributary streams was trans- 

 parent and bright yellow when examined in a glass, 

 whilst in the bed of the river it assumed a dark coffee- 

 brown colour, and appeared quite black in the shade. 



Something similar to this has also been observed 

 in parts of the Amoor, and of the Jumna. 



Norway abounds, too, in lakes, mostly of an in- 

 considerable size, and often lying at great altitudes. 

 As is usually the case with mountain lakes, they are of 

 great depth, and their waters are intensely cold and 

 very transparent. Generally speaking, their width is 

 inconsiderable. 



The Miosen, which is the largest, and is about 70 

 miles long, is 400 feet above the sea. From several of 

 these, rivers take their rise, and run in opposite 



R 



