THE UNMAPPED AREAS OX THE EARTH'S SURFACE 2ti\ 



exigencies to interfere witli what is really a work of nati(»iial 

 importance. 



CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMKRICA 



It is when we come to Central and South America tiiat wc liiul 

 ample room for the unofficial explorer. In Mexico and the Cen- 

 tral American States there are considerahle areas of which we 

 have little or only the vaguest knowledge. In South America 

 there is really more room now for the pioneer explorer than 

 there is in Central Africa. In recent years the Argentine Repul)- 

 lic has shown laudable zeal in exploring and mapping its im- 

 mense territories, while a certain amount of good work lias also 

 been done by Brazil and Chile. Most of our knowledge of South 

 America is due to the enteri)rise of Europeans and of North .Vmcr- 

 icaii explorers. Along the great river counses our knowledj^e xa 

 fairly satisfactory, but the immense areas, often densely clad with 

 forests, l3Mng between the rivers are almost unknown. In Pata- 

 gonia, though a good deal has recently been done by the Argen- 

 tine government, still in the country between Punta Arena.sand 

 the Rio Negro we have much to learn, while on the West Coa.st 

 range, with its innumerable fjord-like inlets, its islands and 

 peninsulas, there is a fine field for the geologist and physical 

 geographer. Indeed, throughout the whole range of the Andes 

 systematic exploration is wanted, exjiloration of the character 

 of the excellent work accomplished by Whymper in the region 

 around Chimborazo. 



There is an enormous area lying to the east of the northern 

 Andes and including their eastern slopes, embracing the eastern 

 half of Ecuador and Colombia, southern Venezuela, and much 

 of the country lying between that and northern Bolivia, includ- 

 ing many of the upper tributaries of the Amazon and Orinoco, 

 of which our knowledge is of the scantiest. Even the country 

 lying between the Rio Negro and the Atlantic is but little known. 

 There are other great areas in Brazil and in the northern Chaco 

 which have only been partially described, such as the region 

 whence the streams forming the Tapajos and the Paraguay take 

 their rise, in Mato Grosso. A survey and detailed geographical 

 and topographical description of the whole basin of I-ake Titi- 

 caca is a desideratum. 



In short, in South America there is a wider and richer field for 

 exploration than in any other continent. But no mere rush 

 throu'di these little-known regions will snnire. The explorer 



