276 THE ANDES OF SOUTHERN PERU 



agreed in giving an elevation much in excess of 17,000 feet. In 

 general the values run from 18,000 to 19,000 feet (5,490 to 5,790 

 m.). Though the bases of these figures are estimates, it should 

 be noted that a large part of the trail lies between 14,000 and 

 16,000 feet, passing mountains snow-free at least 2,000 to 3,000 

 feet higher, and that for general comparisons they have a distinct 

 value. 



In the Eastern Cordillera of Bolivia, snow was observed on 

 the summit of the Tunari group of peaks northwest of Cocha- 

 bamba. Steinmann, who visited the region in 1904, but did not 

 reach the summit of the Tunari group of peaks, concludes that 

 the limit of perpetual snow should be placed above the highest 

 point, 17,300 (5,270 m.) ; but in July and August, 1907, I saw a 

 rather extensive snow cover over at least the upper 1,000 feet, and 

 what appeared to be a very small glacier. Certain it is that the 

 Cochabamba Indians bring clear blue ice from the Tunari to the 

 principal hotels, just as ice is brought to Cliza from the peaks 

 above Arani. On these grounds I am inclined to place the snow- 

 line at 17,000 feet (5,180 m.) near the eastern border of the 

 Eastern Cordillera, latitude 17° S. At 13,000 feet, in July, 1907, 

 snow occurred in patches only on the pass called Abre de Malaga, 

 northeast of Colomi, 13,000 feet, and fell thickly while we were 

 descending the northern slopes toward Corral, so that in the early 

 morning it extended to the cold timber line at 10,000 feet. In a 

 few hours, however, it had vanished from all but the higher and 

 the shadier situations. 



In the Vilcanota knot above the divide between the Titicaca 

 and Vilcanota hydrographic systems, the elevation of the snow- 

 line was 16,300+ feet (4,970 m.) in September, 1907. On the 

 Cordillera Real of Bolivia it is 17,000 to 17,500 feet on the north- 

 east, but falls to 16,000 feet on the southwest above La Paz. In 

 the first week of July, 1911, snow fell on the streets of Cuzco 

 (11,000 feet) and remained for over an hour. The heights north 

 of San Geronimo (16,000 feet) miss the limit of perpetual snow 

 and are snow-covered only a few months each year. 



In taking observations on the snowline along the seventy-third 



