PHYSICAL GEOGEAPHY. 



mff iW' T^® course of the eastern ranges is mostly north and 

 listiicl'^j until they become lost in the detached mountains 

 )ile<i u''^^^^ ^-^^ -^^^ Grande and the Pecos Eiver ; the western 



an 



>es run more west of south, until they sink below 

 ,^ace in the great Madre Plateau of I*^ew Mexico. 



the res:ions west of the main chains, and east of 



au 



netime4^ the innumerable ranges of hills and mountains which 



y.TEL Nevada, and which do not obviously jut out from the 

 ,, , ^^ner, ought not to be placed under the head of the Eoeky 

 , Vjy^ntain system. Such a classification only causes confusion, 



is not warranted either from the physical relations or 



j.ioerical formation of the mountains themselves. 



f peaks o 



„„o'o establish the truth of the above assertions with respect 



range _ . _ r 



i jpjhc Eocky Mountains and their general topography, I must 

 , .^ifer to the map, while I very briefly point out the facts 

 . -„ lich have led me to such conclusions. 



, g Commencing at the north, near the British American 

 -ntier, the two main chains are represented by the Bitter 

 )ot Mountains on the west, and by the ' ' Plat Head Moun- 

 ins"* on the east. A transverse range, The Big Hole 

 fountains, unites these ranges a little south of the 48th 

 irallel. 



The Park region, thus enclosed, is fully one himdred miles 

 cross, by thrice that distance in length. It is traversed in all 

 ii-ections by lesser ranges covered with pine, and enclosing 

 arks and prairies, forests and lakes. 



The general slope of this country is towards the north- 

 west, and the only outlet tlu"ough which the drainage of the 

 Jitire district can escape is in that direction. The stream 

 , Jiere formed is known as Clark's Pork, and is the main 



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