100 



Topographical Geology. 



has been erected more than a thousand feet long-, resting near the 

 center upon two small islands. Over this dam the water leaps more 

 than 30 feet perpendicularly ; and for half a mile continues descending 

 rapidly and foaming along its course. One hundred rods below the 

 falls, the stream strikes directly against a lofty greenstone ridge, by 

 which it is compelled to change its course towards the south at least 

 a quarter of a circle. 



The proper point for viewing Turner's Falls is from road leading 

 to Greenfield on the north shore, perhaps 50 rods below the cataract. 

 Here, from elevated ground, you have directly before you, the princi- 

 pal fall, intersected near the center by two small rocky islands, which 

 are crowned by trees and brushwood. The observer perceives at 

 once that Niagara is before him in miniature. These islands may be 

 reached by a canoe from above the falls in perfect safety. Fifty rods 

 below the cataract, a third most romantic little island lifts its ever- 

 green head, an image of peace and security, in the midst of the agita- 

 ted and foaming waters, swiftly gliding by. The placid aspect of the 

 waters above the fall, calmly emerging from the moderately elevated 

 and wooded hills at a distance, is finely contrasted with its foam and 

 tumult below the cataract. 



The country around these falls is but little cultivated. On the op- 

 poste side of the river the observer will, indeed, perceive a few dwel- 

 lings and the head of a canal : But a little beyond, wooded elevations, 

 chiefly covered with evergreens, terminate the landscape; while in 

 every other direction, the scenery is still more wild and unreclaimed 

 from a state of nature. 



A sailing excursion from the falls, three miles up the stream, has 

 all the attractions of a passage over a mountain lake. And probably 

 the coves'along the shore furnish as good spots for fishing as now 

 exist in the river. The geologist too, will find the vicinity of these 

 falls full of interest — but of this, more hereafter. 



Three miles above Turner's Falls, Miller's river empties into the 

 Connecticut ; and near its mouth is a fall of considerable height. 

 Here also is another dam across the Connecticut, about 10 feet high. 

 I apprehend these falls have been confounded with Turner's ; and 

 hence the latter are sometimes called Miller's Falls. They cannot, 

 however, be said to have as yet any well established name. For a 

 reason which will be mentioned below, I ventured some eight or ten 

 years ago, in a geological account which I published of the Connecticut 



