54 M. GoRDiER on the Mountain of 



shape of a horse-shoe, which opens toAvards the east into the 

 valley of the Cardonero, and whose short axis is nearly from 

 east to west. The town and castle of Cardona are situated 

 at the extremity of the northern branch of this horse-shoe. 



The inclosure is about three kilometres [9837 feet] long, 

 and one kilometre [3273 feet] broad. Its circumference al- 

 most every where affords rapid slopes, or abrupt escarp- 

 ments ; its edge presents slight inequalities, the elevation of 

 which differs little from that of the town of Cardona. 



The mountain of salt occupies about two-thirds of the 

 area of the circus, beginning at the back part ; its height, 

 above the Cardonero, scarcely exceeds 100 metres [328 

 feet] ; so that its mass is hardly higher, or broader than 

 Montmartre, near Paris, although it is about one third 

 longer. 



Its general form is that of an irregular mass, elongated ia 

 the shape of an ass's back, presenting escarpments more or 

 less abrupt in many places. The superior portion is bristled 

 by numerous projections, sharp points, and crests : many of 

 the slopes are here and there encumbered by earthy matters; 

 others, more uncovered, present inequalities a little less 

 defined than those of the summit. In order finally to make 

 this peculiar configuration better understood, it may be 

 added, that it bears a great resemblance to plans in relief of 

 the high Alps. 



The bottom of the semi-circular basin, separating the 

 mountain from the sides of the circus, presents numerous in- 

 equalities and hollows (efFondremens) of greater or less 

 extent ; here and there are seen the ruins of secondary 

 rocks, heaps of soft clay, and sharp ridges of gypsum or rock 

 salt. 



During rains, the greater part of the waters of the circus 

 form two small torrents on each side the mountain, which 

 unite on the eastern side, and flow into the Cardonero. The 

 remainder of the rain water flows in an opposite direction 

 and loses itself in a vast hollow (effondrement) situated on 

 the north west in the farthest part of the inclosure. 



