Chapter II. 



Topography. 



Mountains, rivers, railroad levels, lakes and ponds. 



The topography of the surface of the two counties con- 

 sidered as one district is much diversified and made irreg- 

 ular by erosion. 



This would be strikingly illustrated to anyone who should 

 make a day's journey over any of the roads of the district 

 which do not follow the water courses ; our traveler would 

 find his journey a constant succession of ascents and de- 

 scents ; that no sooner had he reached the summit of one 

 hill than he would have to descend it on the other side, while 

 the level stretches would be few and far between. 



The Elk mountains, a northeastern extension of the Ma- 

 hoopeny, form a very striking feature in southeastern Sus- 

 quehanna ; the North Knob and South Knob being visible 

 from the hilltops in most portions of the county, and attain- 

 ing an altitude of 2700' A. T. 



The cliff sandstones of the Catskill series frequently form 

 a succession of steep bluffs, with sloping benches, shale occu- 

 pying the intervals ; stand out uncovered with soil and sur- 

 face debris in bold successive cliffs along the hillsides ; or cap 

 the higher summits with broad sheets of massive sandrock. 



Thus, the North Knob has been preserved from destruc- 

 tion by its coping layer of hard massive sand rock ; the 

 solitary peak standing 2700' above tide in the midst of a 

 much lower surrounding country, while the valleys around 

 it have been excavated 1500' below its summit. 



The highest land of the district makes a belt from 5 to 6 

 miles wide along the Susquehanna- Wayne county line in a 

 northward prolongation of the mountain walls of the Car- 

 bondale coal basin. 



As nearly all the water-ways cut down through the Cats- 

 kill cliff sandstones their slopes are usually quite steep, 



(7 a*.) 



