146 FORESTRY OF NORWAY. 



of Kaupanger, 2,964 feet [still, more than half a mile, 2,640 

 feet, in depth]. The branch fiords are much narrower, but 

 their depth of water is also very great. The Sogndal at 

 its entrance, which is narrow, is 132 feet, but about mid- 

 way it is 1,194 feet, thence becoming near its end 216 feet 

 deep. The Lyster is at its entrance 2,170 feet [half 

 a mile] deep ; half- way, 1,176 feet ; towards its end 276 

 feet. Even in the Aardal and the Laerdal, which form 

 the upper end of the Sogne, the sea in the former is 840 

 feet, and in the latter 780 feet deep/ 



In these varying depths may be found indications of an 

 action of glaciers which well deserves study. 



Existing glaciers may be considered remains of a sheet of 

 ice or snow, which, in the glacial era, and long after, 

 covered extensively Northern Europe. Glaciers are now, 

 and probably were then, in a state of continuous flux, 

 flowing from a higher to a lower level, as does water, as 

 does tar, as does honey, and as do many substances more 

 tenacious than are they, whenever they are allowed so 

 to gravitate. 



It may be asked how can a solid body like ice flow? 

 And the answer is forthcoming. All matter, even the 

 most solid and compact, is composed of minute particles 

 of the substance kept together by mutual attraction, but 

 not in actual contact. When the attracting force can 

 only act within a very limited distance, though powerfully 

 within that distance, the body is friable, easily broken, it 

 may be easily shattered. Thus is it with glass, with 

 sealing wax, with cast-iron ; but there are also substances 

 which, when warm, can be spread out in sheets, or drawn 

 out in threads the attracting force still keeping the 

 particles together in one mass, though individually to 

 some extent dissevered; and even in their solid state 

 they may be found to be within certain limits elastic, 

 allowing of distension without destruction of the attracting 

 power, which brings them^ into position again when the 

 pressure by which the body may have been bent has been 



