﻿J. R. Bahyns — High-level Terraces in Norway. 73 



with for so long a time tliat I gave up the idea of sending my notice 

 to the press. I am now induced to do so, because I see that the 

 subject of the parallel roads of Glenroy still occupies the attention 

 of geologists, and it may induce some one next summer to examine 

 minutely the Dovre terraces and sand-heaps and their relation to the 

 physical geography of the district. I was merely able to make a 

 flying visit to them, which I delayed my party to do, because they 

 caught my eye so forcibly, as we were driving along the valley. 



The papers in " Scientific Opinion," which I have since seen, do 

 not deal with high-level terraces such as those above Dovre. 



It is well-known that Norway has risen above the sea-level to the 

 extent of 500 or 600 ' feet within comparatively recent times. This 

 is known from two kinds of evidence, that of marine shells, and that 

 of raised beaches, terraces, and sea-marks. Marine shells of recent 

 species have been found at a height of 470 feet (? Norwegian) ac- 

 cording to Kjerulf.^ As to the other kind of evidence, it is to be 

 met with universally. At the head of every fjord a series of terraces 

 of sand and gravel is to be seen, sometimes more, sometimes less 

 numerous, lining the side of the dales, and corresponding with 

 distinct lines of old wave- action, which can be traced for miles 

 running along the mountain-sides above the sea. These terraces 

 were clearly formed in the same manner as the present delta of sand 

 and gravel, which is now forming at the head of every fjord, and 

 which another rise of the land would convert into a similar terrace. 

 Such terraces are more or less numerous according to the 

 accidents of denudation ; each separate terrace marking at least one 

 step and pause in the elevation of the land. I made this year 

 (1872) various barometric observations of the height of the best- 

 marked of these terraces. There is one at Soholt, on the Stor Fjord, 

 about 180 feet above the sea-level ; one at Hellesylt, on the same 

 fjord, 270 feet above the sea-level, — this is a very well marked one. 

 A large and well-marked terrace at Odde, on the Hardanger Fjord, 

 is between 200 and 300 feet high. At Sogndal the highest flat is 

 460 feet above the sea, but no section of sand or gravel was to be 

 seen, the solid rock showing at the surface. The highest terrace of 

 sand and gravel is 374 feet above the sea. Above this level the 

 solid rock shows, though the level step at 460 feet looks like au 

 old sea-margin. 



The above heights of course are mere rough approximations ; but 

 there is no doubt that the terraces in fjords show an elevation of 

 about 400 feet, and that corresponding sea-margins can be traced 

 outside the limits of the dales above the sea itself. 



The Norwegian geologists do not admit a greater elevation of the 

 country than to the extent of 500 or 600- feet, because they have 

 not found any marine shells above that height. In the year 1869 

 I noticed several well-marked sea-margins on the Norwegian coast 

 in the neighbourhood of Tromsoe, and my impression is that the 



1 Sir C. Lyell says 700, " Principles," 11th ed. p. 133. 



^ Kjerulf says in his " Jagttagelser over den Postpliocene eller glaciale formation, 

 Universitats-program for forste halvaar," that marine shells have been found up to 

 470 feet above the sea-level. 



