CHAPTER II. 



THE URAL MOUNTAINS. 



The Ural mountains constitute an extensive range, 

 stretching from the Gulf of Kara in the Arctic Ocean 

 southward to about the paralell of 50°, throughout an 

 extent of 900 miles, with numerous lateral ridges, the 

 aggregate of which is never under 30 miles in breadth, 

 and in some parts reaches 120 miles. 



The north division of the chain beyond the parallel 65o 

 is covered with forests and morasses. The average eleva- 

 tion between the paralells 58° and 56" is only about 1350 

 feet, though the base on which the range rests has an 

 average altitude of 900 feet above the level of the sea. 

 The highest part of the range is to the north of this ; but 

 the highest summit is not more than 5000 feet. 



The forests are a continuation of the forest zone 

 extending through Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the 

 Russian Governments of Olonetz, Archangel, Vologda, 

 Viatka, Perm, and Ufa, and more immediately of that in 

 the three latter Governments. Information in regard to 

 the others has been embodied in volumes previously pub- 

 lished,* while the forests in Ufa have been spoken of in 

 the preceding part of this volume. 



* Forestry of Norway.— In which are degcribed in successive chapters the general 

 features of the country. Details are given of the geographical distribution of forest 

 trees followed by discussions of conditions by which this has been determined — heat, 

 moisture, soil, and exposure. The effects of glacial action on the contour of the coun 

 try are noticed, with accounts of existing glaciers and snow-fields. And information is 

 supplied in regard to forest exploitation and the transport of timber, io regard to the 

 export timber trade, to public instruction in sylviculture, and to forest administration, 

 and to shipbuilding and shipping ; and, 



Finland: Its Forests and Forest Management. 



Forest Lands and Forestry of Northern Russia. 



W 



