PART II 

 PHYSIOGRAPHY OF THE PERUVIAN ANDES 



CHAPTER XI 

 THE PERUVIAN LANDSCAPE 



Fbom the west coast the great Andean Cordillera appears to 

 have little of the regularity suggested by our relief maps. Steep 

 and high cliffs in many places form the border of the land and 

 obstruct the view; beyond them appear distant summits rising into 

 the zone of clouds. Where the cliffs are absent or low, one may 

 look across a sun-baked, yellow landscape, generally broken by ir- 

 regular foothills that in turn merge into the massive outer spurs 

 and ranges of the mountain zone. The plain is interrupted by 

 widely separated valleys whose green lowland meadows form a 

 brilliant contrast to the monotonous browns and yellows of the 

 shimmering desert. In rare situations the valley trenches enable 

 one to look far into the Cordillera and to catch memorable 

 glimpses of lofty peaks capped with snow. 



If the traveler come to the west-coast landscape from the well- 

 molded English hills or the subdued mountains of Vermont and 

 New Hampshire with their artistic blending of moderate profiles, 

 he will at first see nothing but disorder. The scenery will be im- 

 pressive and, in places, extraordinary, but it is apparently com- 

 posed of elements of the greatest diversity. All the conceivable 

 variations of form and color are expressed, with a predominance 

 of bold rugged aspects that give a majestic appearance to the 

 mountain-bordered shore. One looks in vain for some sign of a 

 quiet view, for some uniformity of features, for some landscape 

 that will remind him of the familiar hills of home. The Andes 

 are aggressive mountains that front the sea in formidable spurs 

 or desert ranges. Could we see in one view their entire elevation 



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