4i 

 PRINCE RUPERT— SKAGWAY SECTION 



BY 



Fred. E. Wright. 

 PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY. 



The geologic and geographic features which are charac- 

 teristic of the coast from Vancouver to Prince Rupert 

 continue northwestward with slight change to Skagway. 

 To the east, the Coast Range batholith or batholiths extend 

 in an unbroken line from Vancouver northwestward for 

 over 1,000 miles (1,600 km.) and average nearly ioo miles 

 (160 km.) in width. The major structures of the intruded 

 rocks follow the trend of the Coast range, especially from 

 Wrangell to Skagway. The geology throughout the region 

 is on a broad scale, the different formations often con- 

 tinuing for many miles either without perceptible change 

 or with a continuous and progressive change which can be 

 readily followed. 



The island group along the coast, which constitutes the 

 Alexander archipelago, is considered to be the southerly 

 extension of the Mount St. Elias range, while the shore of 

 the mainland belongs to the western flank of the Coast 

 range. This separation by Brooks of the island group 

 from the mainland is in accord with the classification of 

 Dawson in British Columbia, where the Vancouver range 

 is clearly distinct from the mainland Coast range. Al- 

 though rugged and mountainous in the extreme, this 

 portion of southeastern Alaska is so profoundly intersected 

 by narrow arms of the ocean that communication by water 

 between nearly all parts of the region is feasible and easy. 

 This web of waterways, spread over the entire area, affords 

 deep sea craft access to points far inland, and is of great 

 economic importance. The fiords are not only of value as 

 highways of commerce, but they are a great commercial 

 asset because of the immense quantities of fish — salmon, 

 halibut, and herring — which throng their waters at different 

 seasons of the year. The peculiar and unusual combina- 

 tion of deep narrow fiords and high towering mountains, 

 heavily covered along their bases with dense forests of 

 spruce, hemlock, and cedar, in contrast to their glacier 

 and snow-clad peaks and domes, produces tremendously 

 impressive scenery, and appeals alike to traveller and native 



