Topographical Sketch of the State of New- York. 107 



is but one pass on the earth having a specific resemblance to this 

 valley. Scotland is divided into two unequal sections, by what is 

 well expressed by the term glen, signifying a deep vale between 

 high and steep hills. This glen extends from the Atlantic ocean 

 to the German sea, a distance of 120 miles, and has no summit 

 higher than 70 feet, although bounded on each side by high moun- 

 tains. Each of these passes is occupied by lakes and rivers 

 which follow the general direction of the glen, and both have been 

 rendered navigable by means of canals and other artificial ira- 



Viewed as a whole, the Hudson and Champlain valley may be 



the one containing Lake George, Lake Champlain, and the Cham- 

 bly river ; the other, the Hudson river below Glen's falls. Lake 

 George is a narrow sheet of water, lying in an apparent rend in 

 the adjacent mountains ; is thirty-four miles long, and from one to 

 three miles wide. It discharges its waters into Lake Champlain, 

 through a descent of nearly 200 feet. Lake Champlain, which 

 forms the most important part of the upper sub-basin, is 109 miles 

 long, and from one-half mile to twelve miles wide : its depth nearly 

 corresponds to that of Huron and Michigan ; while its surface is 

 elevated only 93 feet above the level of tide water. Surrounded 

 by imposing mountain scenery, the traveller on this lake imagines 

 himself raised to Alpine heights, and can scarcely be convinced 

 that a descent of less than one hundred feet would depress him to 

 the level of the ocean. Lake Champlain is connected with the 

 river St. Lawrence by the Chambly river on the north, and with 

 the Hudson river on the south, by the artificial communication of 

 the Champlain canal. The intervening distance between the 

 Hudson river and the lake is only 22 miles ; but the whole length 

 of the canal, from its junction with the Erie canal, is 64 miles, 39 

 of which is along the side of the river. 



The other division of the Hudson and Champlain valley, is the 

 deep basin of the Hudson ; and this may again be described as 

 consisting of two subdivisions. The first of these includes the 

 lower valley of the Mohawk, and the slopes of land on each side 

 of the Hudson, from Glen's falls to the entrance of the Highlands 

 near Newburgh. The sandy plain between Albany and Schenec- 

 tady, is an upper shelf of the lower valley of the Mohawk, the 

 southern boundary of which is a continuation of the Catskill raoua- 

 tains, and is seen in travelling between these cities, stretching 



