A24 | Scientifie Intelligence. 
connected uplands favors the equal distribution and collection 
snows of winter, the porous nature of the rock itself is the ora 
cause, that on this substratum a much smaller proportion of the melted 
waters returns by evaporation into the atmosphere, than is the case on 
Steeper mountain heights, consisting of a more compact rock, and hav- 
ing either no soil, or only a very thin covering. Hence the produc- 
name of Karasu waters has been applied ;* and this term has so far 
the merit of physical distinction, as by it all springs rising in lofty 
ols elevated by volcanic action, can be distinguished from such as 
rise er formations. verywhere do these Karasu springs 
rise with an astonishing abundance of water, partly at the edges of t 
volcanic table-lands, even at the greatest heights, and partly immedi- 
ately amidst and below the beds of lava heiraees stretch down from the 
mountains into the open valleys. * * * 
Within the central region of the great ear range are to be 
found the greatest heights of the Lower Cauca 
an isolated and independent system, the aeiag and ‘extensive 
tain of Alaghéz, the base of which is 170 wersts7 in circu 
is a phenomenon as peculiar as it is remarkable, in which the laws of 
craters of elevation are most fully borne out, and affords 
facts of the greatest aie for the doctrine of mo 
“es —— which exist on 12 summit of the flat dome 
from a number “ ements from the best points, a 
eidcion of 9970 French feet above the sea. Four pyramidal roe! 
points are placed with great regularity round the highest base of the 
excentrical Caldera.t The _— of them has, according to Fedo- 
row’s trigonometrical measurements, an absolute height of 12,886 
French feet; and the lowest, ialatet the S.W., is by my barometrical 
measurements 866 French feet lower. The conditions of climate 
round the mountain are very different. Wheat scarcely Tipens on the 
— of Goeseldara,§ at the north foot of Alaghéz, 6343 French feet 
e the sea; whilst at its southern base, near Astara b, on the rocky 
French feet. O uthwestern declivities of the mountain, OwINg 
to the favorable influence of the neighboring plains covered by vole 
nic beds, the vine was formerly cultivated to ch greater height. 
ed The ied Karasu signifies dlack water, and is a term universally give® 
Asia Minor to a deep flowing-riv er ina pinta district. 1 apis 
Abich’ 8 haere, as I have met with nie called Py st _ 
parts o Asia Minor, where the nature of the country and the rocks pr 
de the idea of the term oe derived from any cause oitike that alluded to in 
Several rivers of t cones: are mentioned in my work on Asi& i 
- milton, Geol. Soc pe ond 
. t A werst is about two-thirds of an sen bir mile. the 
$+ The point where the maximum of elevating power was exerted, causin ann 
Separation of the edges of the Caldera, is stated by the author ina long a rer 
tory note, not to correspond with the central axis in the real summit of the 
dome, but to lie seven wersts to the northeast from the summit. 
§ Ghieuzel-dereh, Fair Valley. 
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