Vol. 6] Eeid: The Geomorphogeny of the Sierra Nevada. 1:37 



certain, though careful examination may reveal its presence to 

 Washoe. The maximum height of the cliff west of the lake is 

 about ten feet, and grows gradually less to the north. It is of 

 very recent formation, for erosion has not yet modified its pro- 

 file. On the east side of the lake the valley floor slopes very 

 gently in an unbroken line up to the foot of the hills, with no 

 suggestion of a cliff or stream trenching. On the south shore 

 of the lake the waters lap the solid rock, and comparatively deep 

 water exists a few feet off shore. The two stream courses at the 

 south end of the lake are also indicative of differential eleva- 

 tion. The one near Lakeview flows on a due north course to the 

 important east-west fault line already described, at which it 

 turns sharply northeast, flowing thence to the lake. The creek 

 at the southeast corner of the lake, on the other hand, flows by 

 the shortest line to the lake, over a slope covered for the most 

 part with angular rock fragments from the hills. If the abrupt 

 change in the direction of flow of the first creek were due simply 

 to a shrinkage of lake surface, the second creek in its lower part 

 would flow over old lake beaches and deposits. This condition 

 is not fulfilled ; the only beach on the east shore is the one now 

 occupied by the lake at periods of high water. The absence of 

 a more detailed topographic map makes exact statements depend- 

 ing upon relative elevations impossible. The 5,100-feet contour 

 is suggestive of a tilting to the east, and taken in conjunction 

 with the presence of lake beds at that elevation on the west and 

 not on the east, is of some value to the present inquiry. The 

 warping of the basin, with the formation of a low divide west of 

 Slide Mountain and the rock shore of the lake at the south is 

 probably due to the faulting that produced Slide Mountain. The 

 best supplementary proof of these movements in AVashoe Valley 

 are found to the south. 



The course of Carson River from Genoa northward presents 

 some anomalies. In Carson Valley it flows on the west side over 

 a deeply alluviated floor. East of Genoa Peak it turns eastward, 

 follows the east side of the narrowing valley and turns into the 

 rocky gorge south and east of Prison Hill. Thence it flows north- 

 ward to Empire, where it turns at a right angle and proceeds 

 eastward through the Como Range. In such a region of great 



