Vol. 56.] SALT-LAKE OF LARNACA. 755 



be 53J million gallons, or a total product of 278 million gallons. 

 From this must be deducted the loss by evaporation for the period 

 during which the 7'37 inches of rain fell, that is to say nearly four 

 months, and the loss from this cause may be set down at 20 per 

 cent. The net product of the rainfall between the first day of 

 September and the nineteenth of December will therefore be about 

 223 million gallons. 



It has already been assumed that the contents of the lake are 

 480 million gallons, and it has also been shown that only 223 

 million gallons was produced by rainfall. It is therefore not too 

 much to say that the balance (257 million gallons), or considerably 

 more than one half the contents of the lake, was derived from the 

 sea. 



There is, however, this much to be remembered, namely, that some 

 portion of the rain absorbed by the land enclosed within the cross- 

 hatched area comprising the watershed of the lake, after penetrating 

 the upper surface of the soil, would find its way through subter- 

 ranean passages into the lake, so that not all of the 50 per cent, 

 allowed for infiltration would be lost. On the other hand, it is 

 certain that the first few showers of rain falling within the area of 

 direct drainage (cross-hatched) would be entirely absorbed by the 

 parched soil, and the contents of the lake would, at the commence- 

 ment of the rainy season, only be affected by such rain-water as 

 fell directly upon its surface. 



While this argument is based in the first instance merely upon 

 an assumption as to the contents of the lake, there is sufficiently 

 strong evidence for believing that at least 50 per cent, of the 

 contents of the lake comes from the sea, and since therefore so 

 much salt-water enters the lake, the origin of the salt is not far to 

 seek. 



It has already been shown that the entire watershed of the lake 

 covers 22 square miles ; the product of 1 inch of rain over this area 

 would be 319 million gallons. The mean annual rainfall for Larnaca 

 for the five years 1893.-97 was 17'87 inches. It is hardly necessary 

 to point out that, but for the intercepting channels, the salt-lake 

 would probably have no existence, and a wide area of country lying 

 below sea-level would be submerged. It may be also inferred what 

 serious consequences might arise from a breach in any part of the 

 embankments which form the channels. 



Again, this mean annual rainfall of 17*87 inches, falling within 

 the area directly affecting the lake, would fill it more than twice 

 over, and from this fact may be derived some idea of the rate of 

 evaporation and infiltration, since it is conclusively proved that the 

 lake must also be fed somewhat freely from the sea. That the 

 surface of the lake does not rise to a height corresponding with that 

 of the sea is accounted for by the fact that the 17 or 18 inches of 

 rain do not fall at once, and that in the intervals between the 

 showers evaporation takes place with sufficient rapidity to counteract 

 the effect produced by rain and sea combined. 



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