28 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



tion south of Lake Ontario. The eastern face of the Indian penin- 

 sula between Georgian bay and Lake Huron and the bold bluff of 

 Cabot's head mark the northward extent of this escarpment, which, 

 after an interruption by a broad transverse channel, is farther trace- 

 able in the northern slope of the Manitoulin islands. Eastward the 

 escarpment continues to the vicinity of Lockport, where its con- 

 tinuity is interrupted by two pronounced gulfs, through one of which 

 the Erie canal descends to the lowland of Lake Ontario. Beyond 

 Lockport the escarpment becomes less pronounced; at first it sep- 

 arates into several minor steps or terraces and later it is replaced by 

 a more or less continuous and gentle slope. Beyond the Genesee 

 river it is no longer distinguishable, the surface of the country as- 

 cending gently and uniformly from Lake Ontario southward. 



Turning now toward the south, the observer sees a second plain 

 extending from the edge of the Niagara escarpment to where its 

 continuity is blended with the horizon. This plain is not as uni- 

 form as the Ontario plain, which is fully 200 feet below it, and it is 

 sharply divided by the Niagara gorge, from its northern edge at the 

 escarpment to where, in the distance, a cloud of spray marks the 

 location of the great cataracts. In the walls of the gorge can be 

 seen the cut edges of the strata which enter into the structure of 

 this higher plain, and attentive observation will reveal the fact, that 

 the uppermost of these is a firm-looking limestone bed, which in- 

 creases perceptibly in thickness toward the north. This thickening 

 of the capping limestone bed, whose upper surface is essentially 

 level, brings out a fact not otherwise readily noticed, namely that the 

 strata all have a gentle inclination or dip to the south. The surface 

 of the upper plain, aside from minor, mainly local irregularities, is 

 essentially level, scarcely rising above the 600 foot contour line. 

 This is the elevation, above the sea, of the base of Brock's monu- 

 ment, and it is the average elevation of the plain in the vicinity of 

 Buffalo, the location of which, 20 miles to the south, is indicated by 

 a perpetual cloud of smoke above the horizon. 1 



*A very satisfactory view, of the level character of this plain is obtained 

 during a ride by rail from Niagara Falls to Lockport, and thence by train, 

 or electric car to Buffalo. 



