22 The Hon. Mr. Strangways oyi the Geology of Russia. 



In the government of Kostroma^ salt is made in many places from brine, 

 especially at Solyi Galich*, on the borders of the government of Vologda, 

 where it is accompanied by gypsum. 



The next considerable salt manufacture near the Volga is at Balakhnaj 

 where there are several brine-springs situated in a plain between the hills 

 and the river. One opened in 1818 affords 13° of salt. 



The plain extends from Balakhna to the mouth of the Oca_, the hills turn- 

 ing off abruptly to the south. The ground is low and marshy, being often 

 flooded by the two rivers. Some part of this plain is probably of alluvial 

 formation ; but how much of it owes its existence to recent depositions would 

 be difficult to determine. 



Opposite to this plain, which is triangular (being bounded by the two rivers 

 and the ridge of hills above mentioned, on the left of the Oca), stands the 

 town of Nishney Novgorod, on the point of a triangular elevation, which fills 

 the angle on the right of the mouth of the Oca, as the plain just described 

 fills up the left. The hill is extremely steep, rising almost from the water's 

 edge: the apex, on which is placed the ancient Kreml or fortress, is stated by 

 the engineers to be above 400 feet in height above the river. This high 

 ground is intersected by numerous ravines of great depth, even in the middle 

 of the town. One of these extends so far into the body of the hill, as 

 nearly to join one that begins on the other side of the town, and opens 

 to the valley of a small river flowing to the eastward. This stream does not 

 join the Volga for ten miles below the town. 



But the most remarkable chasms are to be seen on the Oca, just above the 

 town, under the walls of the convent which stands between the Moscow road 

 and the river. They cannot be less than 350 feet in depth ; but show nothing 

 but horizontal strata of red and white marl. Still higher up the river, near 

 the fifth verst on the same road, is a beautiful view over the whole valley of 

 the Oca : a little to the right of this spot, a path leads to the head of a romantic 

 dell, which descends towards the river, and which far surpasses in picturesque 

 beauty any thing in the neighbourhood of Nishney Novgorod. The path 

 winds down among broken hills, here and there exposing perpendicular cliffs 

 of red rock-marl, which, when seen between the tufted woods of oak and ash 

 in which they are embosomed, and through which is caught from time to time 

 a view of the winding Oca studded with sails, cannot fail to recall the smihng 

 landscapes of the western counties of England. In the deepest part of the 



* Sol>e Galich, or Sol Galitzkoy. 



