'5 



of the snow-line. He defined the processes of glaciation, glacial 

 drift, periodic precession and retrocession. The glaciers of the 

 Andes have been for a number of years in actual retrocession, 

 with evidences of a former much greater extension. The north- 

 ern Andes are without glaciers, but on Chimborazo and other 

 volcanic peaks of Ecuador there are traces, but no continuous 

 snow-line. Northern Peru, virtually unknown, has peaks, like the 

 Eiuascan and Pariacaca, probably of over 22,000 feet. There are 

 no glaciers in southwestern Peru, but the coast-range presents a 

 succession of very tall ( 22.000 feet) isolated volcanic summits 

 like those of Ecuador. There are glaciers in Chili; hut the most 

 characteristically alpine chain is the " royal Cordillera of Bolivia," 

 from the Sorata peaks in the north to Illimani in the south, or 

 from hit. 15° to about lat. 17° south. North of it. what is called 

 the "Notch of Apolohamha " or the "Cordillera of Carabaya." 

 is composed of a series of disconnected groups rising in their tops 

 above the snow-line, with huge glaciers, as around the Ananea and 

 Palomani, and as yet as good as unexplored. 



The " royal Cordillera " rises to 21,500 feet in Hanko-Uma, to 

 300 feet less in Illimani. its most southerly pillar. Enormous 

 glaciers stream down to a level of about 14,000 feet towards the 

 west : on the east the declivity is too abrupt, although many 

 glaciers descend towards it also, hut of lesser length. Only those 

 on the west and southwest of Hanko-Cma, Karka-Jaque (Huayna 

 Potosi ) and of Illimani can compare in longitudinal extent with 

 those of the Rhone, the Aletsch, Mer de Glace and others in 

 Switzerland. The configuration, murrains and incline are other- 

 wise alike, and avalanches equally frequent locally. There are 

 marked similarities in the appearances of summits and profiles of 

 mountains. Hanko-L nta ( Sorata ) is not unlike Montblanc, 

 although six thousand feet higher; Karka-Jaque is like the Mat- 

 terhorn and Illimani corresponds with the Jungfrau group. In 

 the Apolobamba chain the Nevado de Sanchez recalls the Matter- 

 horn also. Aridity occurs in the passes in the Andes about 11,000 

 feet, towards the east, and almost to the seashore, to the west. 

 The passes of the Andes are 15.000 feet high and more. 



Lakes. — Lake Geneva and Lake Titicaca. Difference of level 

 11.500 feet. Shores of Titicaca bleak, with no arboriferous vege- 

 tation except at very few places and only in small patches. 

 Islands of Titicaca; Main Islands. Koati and He Saint-Pierre 

 on Lake of Bienne; Montreux. Neuchatel, Oberhofen, Thoune. 

 Shores of Swiss lakes densely populated, while those of Titicaca 

 sparsely. Copacavana one of the principal settlements. Puno the 



