BRAVAIS ON LINES OF FORMER SEA-LEVEL IN FINMARK. 537 



this district. Besides these, there are, perhaps, others that are 

 intermediate, but if so, being less clearly indicated, the consider- 

 ation of them may be postponed at present. The two principal 

 lines are traceable on the coast parallel to one another, and in spite 

 of frequent interruptions they re-appear sufficiently often, and 

 at intervals near enough to render their former continuity per- 

 fectly clear. They may be denominated respectively the upper 

 and the lower line. 



The valley of the Alten-elv is situated at the southern ex- 

 tremity of the fjord, and near the village of Elvebakken. At the 

 point where the little river Alten empties itself, there is a re- 

 markable bed of alluvium, brought down no doubt by the stream, 

 and from the Kongshavnsfjeld as far as this village, there occurs, 

 68 metres above the actual sea-level, a singular horizontal terrace 

 terminating towards the sea by a rapid slope, and forming, parallel 

 to the coast, a considerable curve, about a mile and a half in 

 length. The eastern extremity of this platform juts out towards 

 the north-east, in a sharp spur, the base of which is being 

 gradually worn away by the waters of the river, so that the little 

 hill formed by the spur is daily diminishing on this side. It is 

 easy to see that this spur is composed of sand, but the side not 

 exposed to the action of the sea is covered with such vegetation 

 as is found in the neighbourhood. Advancing to the north- 

 eastern extremity of the terrace the observer is able to perceive 

 similar heaps on the other side of the stream, formerly no doubt 

 connected with these just described, and offering proof of the 

 whole having been once continuous, the level of the river being 

 then the same as that of the terrace. The terrace is traceable 

 from point to point on the left bank, always on the same level ; 

 but in consequence of the inclination of the bed of the stream, its 

 surface is gradually at less and less distance ; and at a village 

 five or six leagues in the interior the line is only about 28 metres 

 above the general level of the district. 



Proceeding from this spot doubtful indications of similar phe- 

 nomena were observed on the denuded flanks of an escarped 

 promontory in the neighbourhood, and thence to Skodevara, after 

 passing which latter mountain we reach a valley, entirely occupied 

 by a thick mass of detritus, the upper surface of which forms a 

 beautiful terrace, where the continuance of the external ridge of 

 the platform is hardly interrupted, and its horizontality is a 

 striking feature. 



Still further on, at the bottom of the Alten-fjord, we find another 

 bay and a third terrace at the embouchure of a small stream 

 (Kaafjord-elv), the right bank of which is steeply scarped, and the 

 left almost entirely occupied by recent alluvial deposits. The 

 whole surface of the terrace is clothed with vegetation, and there 

 is a gentle, but perceptible, slope observable from the line at 

 which it meets the mountain side, as far as the cliff which over- 

 looks the mouth of the stream. 



The line of junction of this terrace with the mountain may also 



