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snow, towering above the stretch of tundra to the east, 

 more than three hundred miles away. Such is the clear- 

 ness of the atmosphere of Alaska ! 



The southern base of the Kenai Mountains is washed by 

 the waters of the great Japan Current, which affects all of 

 the Pacific coast of North America south of the Alaska Pen- 

 insula. It tempers the atmosphere and is the cause of the 

 mildness of the climate and luxuriance of the vegetation. 

 The Avarm, moisture-laden air, rising from the Pacific and" 

 coming in contact with the icy winds of the mountains, pro- 

 duces very heavy fogs, which at times wrap the mountains 

 in an almost nocturnal gloom. At other times while the 

 mountains are bathed in the brightest of sunlight, the low- 

 lands will be shrouded in fog, producing a beautiful billowy 

 effect when viewed from above. The winters on the coast 

 are perhaps not more severe than the average winter in New 

 York City, although the heavy snowfall and protracted gales 

 make them appear so. 



On the southern coast of the extreme end of the Alaska 

 Peninsula the climate is much the same as the Cook's Inlet 

 region, except that it is not quite so cold, and the snowfall 

 is not so heavy and seldom remains for more than a few 

 days. Gales of extreme severity are of weekly occurrence, 

 however. But the vegetation of the Alaska Peninsula is 

 quite different from that of the Kenai. The peninsula is of 

 comparatively recent formation, and timber has not as yet 

 obtamed a footing. Alder is abundant on the lower ground, 

 and, like the occasional willow, is much dwarfed. Consider- 

 able grass and many species of flowers are found near the 

 coast, being much the same as those found on the barren 

 grounds of the Kenai Peninsula. 



The mountains of the Alaska Peninsula are a continua- 

 tion of the Alaskan chain — high, rugged in the extreme, and 

 snow-capped throughout the year, while several volcanoes add 

 to their wildness and beauty. 



