THE CAPE XO.VE GOLD DISTRICT 



17 



of the Fort St Michael MiHtary Reservation. By ocean steamer route 

 it is nearly "i.TOO miles northwest of Seattle, and about 750 miles from 

 Dutch Harbor, Unalaska. The Cape Nome region as known at 

 present extends from Cape Nome, the apex of the promontor}', some 

 30 miles or more northwestward along the coast and about 20 miles 

 inland to the north. In tlie middle of this shore line, at the mouth 

 of the Snake River, the thriving city of Nome is situated. 



I'AHT OK Xii.MK riliiM TlIK IIKACII — l-OUK INi! MIIITII WKST 



From Cape Nome for .'!0 or more miles westward to near Synrock 

 the shore line is comparatively straiglit and smootii, Imt lying back of 

 the shore line, bc^tween it and the base of the mountains, occurs the 

 well-known tun<lra. This consists of a strip of treeless, moss-covered 

 marine gravels, forming a coastal shelf, which along the l)ca(;h is al)out 

 80 feet above sea-level. From here it slopes gently upward until 

 at the base of the mountains, some four or (Ive miles from the beach, 

 it attains an elevation of loO or 200 feet. During the summer it is 

 usually wet, soft, and I'oggy and is dotted here and there by ;i few 



