ST. JOHN.] GENERAL SURFACE FEATURES. IPE 
While the foregoing hypsometric data may convey some notion of the 
general surface reliefs of the district and its drainage depressions, a 
closer examination reveals great diversity, the mountain ranges present- 
ing broad contrasts, which may also be said of the basin areas. With 
the exception of the Green River Valley, the alluvial tracts bordering 
the streams are of limited extent, usually confined to narrow strips of 
gravelly bottom land. In the Tertiary basins of the Hoback and Gros 
Ventre, the tributaries of the main streams generally occupy deep, nar- 
row valleys eroded out of the soft strata, while along those which rise in 
the neighboring mountains is met some of the wildest and often sublime 
cation scenery. The region on the west slope is generally well covered 
with forests of pine and fir trees, the lower hilly country being fairly cov- 
ered with good grazing herbage. Perennial streams are everywhere en- 
countered in this quarter. But on the east slope, beyond Wind River, 
the country presents some of the aspects of “bad lands”; only the larger 
streams are filled with flowing water the whole year, and extensive bench- 
plateaus are covered with a sparce growth of herbage, and no forests. 
12H 
