150 



LAKE OF VALENCIA. 



and as it retired the planters took possession of the 

 new land. 



The idea that the lake will soon entirely disappear 

 Humboldt treats as chimerical, considering it proba- 

 ble that a period will shortly arrive when the supply 

 of waters by the rivers and the evaporation will 

 balance each other. The mean depth is from 77 to 

 96 feet, and there are some parts not less than 224 

 or 256 feet. The length is thirty-four and a half 

 miles, and the breadth four or five. The tempera- 

 ture at the surface, in February, was from 73 '4° to 

 74-7°, which was a little lower than the mean tem- 

 perature of the air. 



The Lake of Valencia is covered with beautiful 

 islands to the number of fifteen, some of which are 

 cultivated. It is well stocked with fish, although it 

 furnishes only three kinds, which are soft and in- 

 sipid. A small crocodile, the bava, which generally 

 attains the length of three or four feet, is very com- 

 mon ; but it is remarkable that neither the lake nor 

 any of the rivers which flow into it have any large 

 alligators, though these animals abound a few 

 leagues off, in the streams that unite with the Apure 

 and Orinoco, or pass directly into the Caribbean 

 Sea. The islands are of gneiss, like the surround- 

 ing country. Of the plants which they produce, 

 many have been believed to be peculiar to the dis- 

 trict, such as the papaws of the lake, and the toma- 

 toes of the island of Cura. The aquatic vegeta- 

 tion along the shores reminded the travellers of the 

 lakes of Europe, although the species of potamoge- 

 ton, chara, and equisetum were peculiar to the New 

 Continent. 



Some of the rivers that flow into this fine sheet 

 of water owe their origin to hot springs, of which, 

 however, the travellers were able to examine only 

 those of Mariara and Las Trincheras. In going up 

 the Cura towards its source, the mountains of Ma- 

 riara are seen advancing into the plain, in the form 



