162 FORESTRY OF NORWAY. 



ancient marine formations terminate, and where the con- 

 tinental formations begin. This point is passed in the 

 valley of the Glommen at Kongsvinger, and it is equally 

 marked in numerous other localities. At a higher altitude 

 in the valleys we come to a second slip, formed by the 

 rocks contracting the valley, or by a moraine. Behind or 

 beyond this slip there is found generally the basin of the 

 valley covered with sand, or near this more rarely with 

 clay; and so on, as further and further the valley is 

 ascended. In proportion as the continental ice was thick, 

 some valleys have remained a shorter or a longer period 

 filled with ice. The lower limits of glaciers have always 

 been receding to higher altitudes, and in places where 

 they have remained stationary for a long time they have 

 left moraines. These have there formed dykes, behind 

 which was thus created a reservoir in which the clay 

 carried off by the waters fell to be deposited in layers. 

 Beds of clay in extensive areas above the ancient sea level 

 are rarely met with ; but they are met with in certain 

 places behind these dykes, amongst the filling up of the 

 later formed slips in the basin of the valley. 



In the valley of the Glommen, in the water-course of 

 the Guldbrandslagen, and in the basin of the Dokka, all 

 of these may be seen 



On the west coast of Norway the same succession of 

 slips may be seen, but with a character somewhat different 

 on account of the shortness and the depth of the valleys. 

 At the extremity of the interior ramifications of the fiords 

 there rises often a rampart of gravel and erratic deposits ; 

 it is the moraine of the glacial period. Behind this there 

 is ordinarily found a lake at a height a little above the 

 level of the sea, while the depth of the lake is often con- 

 siderably below the sea level. Such lakes are numerous, 

 and beyond them, landwards, there are met with on many 

 points a distinct slip in saady ground, steep towards the 

 sea, but flat towards the interior of the country ; it marks 

 the ancient level of the sea. 



In the diocese of Drontheim, where the valleys stretch 



