20 Sketch of the Geology of Northern Russia. 



discharge their waters through the Neva into the gulf of Finland. 

 The Dina or Dwina collects the waters from the north east, and is 

 lost in the White Sea at Archangel. 



The hills bordering the plain of Novogorod, are of red and grey 

 marbled clay, resembling the red marl of central Russia. Limestone 

 and sandstone form the bed of the river Msta. Opposite, and east 

 of the river, the sand appears in horizontal strata, containing " an ag- 

 glomerate of charred wood and every sort of geode." Some of its 

 concretions resemble Egyptian pebbles, and are of a siliceous char- 

 acter ; above this are beds of red and yellow sand ; the next beds are 

 blue limestone containing madrepores. Impressions of large tufts of 

 pentacrinite cover the surface of the limestone strata, bending in eve- 

 ry direction. The blue limestone also contains minute corallines, and 

 other fossils. 



Central salt district. 



Near tlie most northern bend of the Volga, which, for a short dis- 

 tance, runs east from its source in tlie Valday Hills, the face of the 

 country is of loose red sand, in many places blown into waves, and 

 ridges by the winds, and destitute of herbage. When cultivated it 

 yields flax, rye, and wheat in abundance. Bowlders of primitive and 

 siliceous rocks are strewed over the bed of the river which is shallow, 

 but soon receives such accessions from the Tvertza, Mologa, and 

 Shexna, as to become a mighty stream. Its banks acquire new fea- 

 tures rising into lofty precipices, and falling into deep ravines — the 

 red rocks loose their sandy character for the argillaceous, which com- 

 monly distinguishes the salt formations. The sandy surface appears 

 at intervals, and marl is discovered at the depth of a few feet, of a 

 deep red color, though sometimes of a greenish gray or white, pro- 

 ducing the richest pastures, and the deepest verdure in Russia. The 

 soil is peculiarly favorable to flax, and it is worthy of remark, that a 

 similar soil yields tlie finest quality produced in the northern districts. 



The same formation continues to Kostroma, in lat 57° N. 41° E. 

 long, where both the riches and the scenery of the country are of 

 surpassing value and beauty. In the neighborhood of Kostroma, 

 noble oaks border the margin of the Volga, and the scene is varied 

 with towns and villages. " Red marl and sand are here found in 

 situ ;" and salt springs are of frequent occurrence, throughout th?- 

 government of Kostroma. 



