Physical Geography. 131 



" 10. The large rivers flow from the east side of the Scandinavian 

 mountains, and the smaller currents from the western side. Three 

 large rivers descend from the southern side of the northern Alps ; 

 in the Pyrenees, one only flows from the southern slope, and many of 

 less importance take their source from the northern side. In Scan- 

 dinavia the separation of the waters is sometimes interrupted. 



"11. Lakes of considerable size, and in great numbers, are found 

 near the southern, northern and eastern bases of the Alps, and near 

 the eastern bases of the Scandinavian mountains ; there are none at 

 the feet of the Pyrenees. High or elevated lakes are large and 

 numerous in Scandinavia, they are small and rare on the Alps and 

 Pyrenees. 



" 12. In Scandinavia there are no secondary mountains, gneiss 

 and schist are frequently met with, lime-stone much more rarely ; — 

 no thermal springs are found among them. 



" 13. The western side of the Scandinavian chains enjoys a con- 

 tinental climate, and the eastern side, a maritime climate. At the 

 south western bases of the Alps the temperature is high and the 

 winter mild ; on the southern and western sides the climate is conti- 

 nental ; on the northern basis, the difference between the tempera- 

 tures of winter and summer, goes on increasing as we advance to- 

 wards the east. The difference diminishes as we ascend. 



" 14.. If we consider solely the bases of the mountains, the differ- 

 ence of the mean temperature is considerable in Scandinavia; it is 

 less in the Alps, and still less in the Pyrenees. But if the height be 

 taken into account, we fed that it is the highest in the Alps and low- 

 est in Scandinavia. 



" 15. In approaching the Alps, the quantity of rain increases ; it 

 is very great on the southern side, and very small at the eastern ex- 

 tremity. The western side of the Scandinavian chain is under a 

 pluvial sky, the eastern side enjoys a dry climate. 



" 16. The limit of snow in Scandinavia desends from five thou- 

 sand two hundred feet to two thousand two hundred, in advancing 

 from north to south. In the northern Alj)s it is at the height of eight 

 thousand two hundred ; in the eastern Alps at eight thousand, and in 

 the southern Alps eight thousand six hundred. In the Pyrenees of 

 the north it is at seven thousand eight hundred, in those of the south 

 eight thousand six hundred feet. The Alps present the greatest quan- 

 tity of snow as well as the greatest and most jiumerous masses of ice. 



" 17. The upper regions of the three chains much resemble each 

 other.. The limit of trees in Scandinavia is formed by the birch and 



