THE 



AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 



[THIRD SERIES.] 



Art. XX. — Mt. St. Elias and its Glaciers ;* by Israel C. 

 Russell. With a map, Plate IV. 



The National Geographic Society, in connection with the 

 U. S. Geological Survey, has sent two exploring parties to Mt. 

 St. Elias, Alaska. The first in the summer season of 1890, 

 and the second a year later. The object of these expeditions 

 was to explore the region about Mt. St. Elias, and learn as 

 much as possible of its geography and geology, and if prac- 

 ticable to climb the mountain itself, which is thought to be 

 the highest summit on the North American continent. 



I had charge of each expedition, and it is my object to give 

 here a brief account of the country explored. 



The southern shore of Alaska is probably as wild and inhos- 

 pitable as any coast in the world. Lofty mountains, snow-clad 

 throughout, the year, rise almost directly from the ocean, and 

 send down not only scores but hundreds of glaciers to sea- 

 level. From Cross sound to Kayak island, a distance of 300 

 miles, there is only one break in the iron-bound coast, in which 

 ships can take refuge, that is Yakutat bay, fifty miles east of 

 Mt. St. Elias. On the east side of Yakutat bay near its 

 entrance, there is an Indian village, a mission and a trading- 

 station. This is the nearest human habitation to Mt. St. Elias, 

 and was the basis from which we began our explorations. 



* Abstract of a lecture before the Geological Society of America, at Columbus, 

 Ohio, Dec. 29, 1891. 



Am. Jour. Sol— Third Series, Vol. XLIII, No. 255.— March, 1892. 

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