12 Europe : — a popular Physical Sketch. 



The limit of perpetual snow is found on the north side at 

 an elevation of 8320 feet, on the south side at 9174 feet, 

 which is nearly the same as in the Alps, notwithstanding the 

 several degrees more southerly situation of the Pyrenees ; 

 another proof that the snow line sinks towards the sea. As 

 the highest peaks only shoot through the snow line, the 

 quantity of snow must be small, and in consequence no 

 glaciers or snow-masses are found, like those of the Alps. 



The wild Flora corresponds with the Alpine ; and the 

 Pyrenees may be divided into alpine zones or those of 

 alpine plants — the pines, the oak, the beech, and the chest- 

 nut; here also the first and second zone is uncultivated, 

 in the third the north European species of corn thrive, and 

 in the fourth the vine and the maize. 



The limit of forest trees is on the north side at 6933 

 feet, on the south side at 7359 feet, of the corn cultivation at 

 5226 and 5546 feet ; as the pastures are neither so rich nor 

 extensive as on the Alps, grazing is less flourishing. The 

 wild beasts are the same as those of the Alps, with the ex- 

 ception of the ibex. 



The southern Europe consists of three extensive penin- 

 sulas : viz. the Spanish, the Italian, and the Greek, together 

 with several islands. 



The Spanish peninsula is bounded by the Mediterranean, 

 the Atlantic, and the Pyrenees ; and forms a tolerably regular 

 square, interrupted by no deep indents on the coasts, or gulfs. 

 Opposite the eastern coast are situated the Balearic islands. 

 The latitude is between 36° and 43° 30'. The greatest 

 extent from N. to S. is 480 miles ; from W. to E. 540 

 miles. The greatest part of the peninsula rises to a con- 

 siderable connected mass, the mean elevation of which is 

 2133 feet, and on this Madrid is situated ; Granada is still 

 higher, 2550 feet. A traveller setting out from the north or 

 east coast for Madrid, will have to ascend to a considerable 

 height, but once having reached the table land, his path 



