440 R. S. TARR — GLACIATION OF MOUNT KTAADN, MAINE 



The main part of the elevated portion of the mountain is occupied by 

 the "tableland" (see plate 31), from which several spurs extend as 

 divides between stream valleys heading on the mountain top. In places 

 this tableland is remarkably level ; but on the northern side it gradually 

 merges into a zone of moderate irregularity, beyond which there are 

 four peaks — the North peaks, located on the crest of a broad ridge. The 

 northernmost of these has an elevation of 4,650 feet, the second of 4,625 

 /eet, and the two southern ones each an elevation of 4,700 feet. From 

 the crests of these peaks, as from the edge of the tableland, one looks 

 toward the east into two immense basins, called respectively the North 

 basin (see plates 33 and 34), lying at the base of the North peaks, and 

 the South basin (see plates 32 and 35). For a considerable distance the 

 South basin is inclosed between the walls of the tableland; but at 

 its southern side rise the highest peaks of the mountain, commonly 

 called the South peaks (East and West peak on plate 31), which reach an 

 elevation of 5,150 feet, or 860 feet above the tableland, whose elevation 

 is 4,290 feet. From the high South peak there extends as the southern 

 wall of the South basin the exceedingly narrow and rugged ridge already 

 described, which reaches the last remaining peak of Ktaadn, Pamola, 

 whose elevation is 4,760 feet. 



'So far as the mountain top is concerned, it consists, therefore, of a broad 

 area of rather level land and a number of peaks with moderate slopes. 

 What the conditions are on the southwestern and western sides of Ktaadn 

 I can not say in detail, not having examined that region carefully ; but 

 toward the east there is some striking topography. From Pamola, past 

 the South peak and as far as the North peak, a distance of several miles, 

 the eastern and southern walls of the mountain are everywhere precipi- 

 tous and in places inaccessible. This precipitous wall is interrupted by 

 a spur from one of the North peaks, which, together with the spur of 

 Pamola, incloses the broad South basin (see plate 30), while to the north 

 of the spur is the smaller North basin. 



Concerning these basins Hamlin writes as follows: 



" The Great basin (the South basin), in its whole extent, forms an amphitheater, 

 which, seen from above, strongly resembles an old volcanic crater. In the absence 

 of trigonometrical measurements, its dimensions cannot be accurately stated ; but 

 they may be approximately given as from summit to summit east and west two 

 and a half miles, by a mile and a half from north to south. Its most precipitous 

 part, the southern lobe, measures from its head to the Basin Pond about three- 

 fourths of a mile, and its width is nearly the same. The smaller North Basin 

 approaches in shape the capital letter U, and is about, a mile and a half long and 

 half as wide, fronting a little south of east. The larger basin has a narrow gate- 

 way opening to the northeast." 



