68 LAKES OF NORTH AMERICA. 



mind are different. One or the other will be declared the more attractive 

 according to the temperament of the person who yields himself to their 

 influences. Each is })oetic, and will weave a web of golden fancies in the 

 mind of its admirer, which will be as nectar to his thoughts when his feet 

 tread other and less inspiring paths. 



Owing to the very moderate elevation of Lake Chelan, its climate is 

 mild throughout almost the entire year, and is delightful from early spring 

 to late autumn. Since the building of the Great Northern railroad, this 

 charming lake of the Cascades is quite accessible. The traveler leaving 

 the railroad at Wenatchee, may ascend the Columbia by steamer, to Chelan 

 Crossing, a distance of about forty miles, and thus see something of the 

 great river of the Northwest. From Chelan Crossing, a ride, or prefer- 

 aljly a walk of two miles, will Ijring the visitor to Chelan " City " as a 

 unique group of several hundred " claim shanties " is termed. The houses 

 in this silent city were built simply for the purpose of acquiring some 

 sort of a title to the land on which they stand and were never intended 

 for habitation. The generous hospitality of the sparse population in this 

 frontier town makes up for their lack of numbers. Every visitor who 

 comes to see the beauties of the lake and mountains, of which the dwellers 

 of the region are justly proud, will be welcomed. 



On the lake there are small steamers, which make regular trips to its 

 head, and boats for sailing and fishing. The trout in the lake are abun- 

 dant and unusually line. [Mountain goats inhabit the higher mountains, 

 and afford sport equal to the chamois chase. Small hotels have been 

 built on the shores of the lake for the accommodation of summer tourists, 

 fishermen, and hunters. I mention these details for the purpose of assur- 

 ing the reader that he will find traveling easy and agreeable, if he wishes 

 to verify what has been stated in reference to the attractions of one of the 

 wdldest and grandest lakes in America. ^ 



Only two examples of the mountain lakes of America have been 

 referred to, for the reason that the space at command does not permit even 

 the mention of the hundreds of charming examples, many of them of 

 greater size and in their milder fashion as attractive as those of the Sierra 

 Nevada and Cascade mountains, which add variety and beauty to the New 

 England States, New York, etc. Extending our survey to Canada, a still 



1 A more complete account of the region about Lake Chelan than can be given at this 

 time, may be found in a report on the Upper Columbia River by Lieut. T. W. Symons ; 47th 

 Congress, 1st session, Senate Executive Doc. No. 186, Washington, 1882 ; and in a report by 

 the author, on a Geological Eeconnoissance in Central Washington, U. S. Geol. Surv., 

 Bulletin No. 108. 



