THE 



NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



Vol. XI - FEBRUARY, 1900 No. 2 



SOME GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF SOUTHERN PATA- 

 GONIA, WITH A DISCUSSION OF THEIR ORIGIN 



By J. B. Hatcher 



Princeton University 



In the following pages I shall attempt to describe in as clear and 

 concise a manner as possible the principal geographic features of that 

 part of Patagonia lying beyond the 46th parallel of south latitude 

 as they presented themselves to me during my travels in that coun- 

 try the past three years while engaged chiefly in paleontologic and 

 geologic researches in behalf of Princeton University. I shall also 

 give a brief description of the geology of the region as a basis for 

 a more extended discussion concerning the agencies which have 

 contributed to produce the existing somewhat unusual, not to say 

 unique, drainage systems of Patagonia. I shall not attempt an itin- 

 erary of my explorations, in the progress of which I crossed and re- 

 crossed the southern extension of the continent in man}^ directions, 

 nor shall I undertake to describe in detail the geograpliy of any par- 

 ticular part of the region. 



The attention of the traveler in Patagonia, if he is endowed with 

 any of the instincts of a naturalist, is first attracted to tlie long line 

 of cliffs that everywhere on the eastern coast rise boldly from the 

 sea to a height of from oOO to 500 feet. While still far out at sea 

 this is discernible to the experienced eye of the navigator, though to 

 the landsman it may api)ear as a low cloud or fog-bank, to eitlierof 

 which illusions its usually unbroken summit and dull gray colors 

 freely lend themselves. As the vessel approaches some one of the 

 few harbors of this coast, commonly located at the mouths of rivers, 

 its true nature soon becomes ap[)arent, and it develops as a great sea 



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