Sketch of the Geology of Northern Russia. 2 1 



On the precipitous banks of the Oca, ten miles above its junction 

 with the Volga, stands the town of Nishney Novogorod, the grand 

 centre of tlie internal commerce of Russia. The chasms in the 

 banks of the Oca, show nothing but horizontal strata of red and white 

 marl ; but above the town, its beautiful valley exhibits smiling land- 

 scapes, adorned widi tufts of oak and ash, with occasional glimpses 

 of the winding river, " studded with sails," and bordered with bril- 

 liant verdure, and rich vegetation. Villages adorn the lofty and 

 broken banks of the Volga, below the town, as it pursues its way 

 south-east, thi'ough fine orchards, and pastures, and noble woodlands. 

 The abrupt chasms which intersect the banks, discover beds of pale 

 red sandstone, alternating with marl. The color sometimes varies 

 from pale red to dusky green, containing globular concretions. At 

 the bottom of the clIfF, and near the river, is a thick bed of compact 

 tuff, the cavities of which are filled with stalactites of sulphate of lime, 

 sometimes resembhng those found among solid alabaster. Fresh 

 water shells are found in this tuff, but are of rare occurrence. 



" Among the greatest curiosities of the salt district," says Mr. 

 Strangways, " are the cavern and rocks of Barnacouva. They are 

 situated near the western extremity of a ridge of hills, on the north 

 bank of the Plana, which makes a circuitous course around these 

 hills, and then running east falls into the Volga. A round hill, cov- 

 ered with oaks to the summit, is at this place hollowed on one side 

 into a natural amphitheatre, accessible only by a rugged path, which 

 follows a little stream issuing from a narrow opening between the 

 hills. On pursuing tliis stream into the recess from which it flows, 

 lofty perpendicular rocks appear above the wood, on the right hand^ 

 and on turning a sudden corner, the dell widens a little, and is bar- 

 red across its upper end with a precipitous cliff of snowy whiteness. 

 A small lake lies in the hollow, fringed with oaks. The white cliff 

 rises abruptly behind it, and a woody eminence above terminates the 

 scene. The beauty and repose of this sequestered spot are not the 

 only features which distinguish it. On reaching the cliff, it is found 

 to be of the purest alabaster ; and on passing the tangled brushwood 

 that conceals it, is seen the mouth of a cavern, of which it is no ex- 

 aggeration to say that it resembles the driven snow. At several feet 

 distance from the cave, a remarkable sensation of chill is experienced, 

 and it seems as if this appearance of snow, had also its coldness. 

 The interior of the cave contracts suddenly, and is intensely cold. 

 On the right hand the tops of the larger masses rise above the trees, 



