S2D 



RUSSIA IN EUROPE. 



of tlie rivers, and oblige them to expand into veritable seas in their upper basins. 

 The lanis stretching south and east of this lacustrine region are themselves but 

 moderately elevated, so that they are still mostly covered with lakes, marshes, 

 peat beds, and badly drained low-lying tracts. 



East of Esthonia and Livonia one of these vast reservoirs, fed by the Yelikaya, 

 the Embach, and other large streams, stretches north and south for a distance of 

 over 80 miles. This is the Peipus of the Esthonians, known to the Russians as the 

 Chudskoie Ozero, or "Lake of the Chudes," because surrounded by Chudic 

 (Finnish) tribes. It has a mean depth of some 30 feet, and forms two basins 

 connected by a channel somewhat over 1 mile wide at its narrowest point, about 



Fig. 169.— TiCHKov. 

 Scale 1 : 300,000. 



6 Miles. 



60 feet deep, and with a distinct current. The Peipus, which was formerly far 

 more extensive than at present, is probably the remains of an inlat connecting the 

 eastern extremity of the Gulf of Finland with the Gu^f of Pign, but now cut off 

 from the sea by the gradual upheaval of the coast. The continual influx of rivers 

 and the rainfall have changed it to a fresh- water lake ; but at several points may 

 still be detected the old marine cliffs, in every respect like those on the present 

 Esthonian seaboard. Some of its fauna are also of marine origin, such as a species 

 of seal which has gradually adapted itself to the slowly changing element. A 

 number of salmon placed here by Von Baer in 1852 have multiplied, although 

 prevented by the fulls at the outflow from yearly visiting the Baltic. Since 1844^, 



