l6 ALASKA, 



also very mountainous. Steep ridges and peaks rise to the height 

 ot sometimes 12,000 teet, intersected by glaciers. Coal has been 

 tound on the peninsula opposite Kadiak Island, and coal and gold 

 on Cook Inlet. The principal rivers are the Shushitna and the 

 Copper. 



3. The Aleutian division contains 14,610 square miles, and 

 comprises the western part of the Aliaska Peninsula and the chain 

 of islands from the Shumagin group in the east to Attu in the 

 west, including the Pribilof Islands. The islands appear to be a 

 continuation of the main Alaskan range of mountain groups. 

 There are many volcanic peaks, and slight shocks of earthquake 

 are common. The entire division is treeless, dwarfed specimens 

 of creeping willow being the nearest approach to timber found. 

 Grass grows in abundance. 



4. The Kuskokwim division contains 1 14,975 square miles, and 

 is bounded on the north by the Yukon division and on the east 

 by the mountain range between the Kuskokwim and Tanana rivers. 

 The head waters ot this river have not been explored, but the 

 ground on the shores is low and marshy. The interior of Alaska 

 is less elevated, and contains extensive plains. The country is 

 poor in natural products, although salmon abounds in the river. 



5. The Yukon division contains 176,715 square miles, and 

 comprises the valley of the Yukon River, as far as it lies within 

 our boundaries, with its tributaries. The division is bounded by 

 the Arctic division on the north, the one hundred and forty-fifth 

 meridian on the east, and Bering Sea on the west. The southern 

 boundary lies along a line indicating the water shed between the 

 Yukon and the Kuskokwim, Sushitna, and Copper rivers. This 

 section, as well as the Kuskokwim division, are more fully described 

 under the heading "River system." 



6. The Arctic division covers 125,245 square miles, and com- 

 prises that portion of the continent between the one hundred and 

 forty-fifth meridian on the east and Bering Strait on the west, the 



