ASIA. 



881 



tains, iioar the city of Tiukeslan. On the soutli and west sides, 2 volcanoes aie still in activi- 

 ty, — Demavend, which is visible from Teheran; and Seiban Dagh, which is covered with 

 vitreous lava. The chain of the Caucasus abounds with trachytes, porphyries, and thermal 

 springs. Numerous mud volcanoes appear on the isthmus between the Caspian and Black Sea. 

 On the 27th of November, 1827, at the village of loknuili, in the territoiy^ of Bakou, about 3 

 leagues west from the shores of the Caspian, violent earthquakes and noises were followed by 

 an eruption of tlames and stones. A space extending 1,2S0 feet in length, and 9G0 feet in 

 breadth, burned withojt interruption during 27 hours, and was raised above the level of the 

 neighboring country. After the flames were extinguished, columns of water were observed to 

 gush forth, which continue to flow at the present time. 



6. Rivers. Although Asia is the largest division of the globe, tlie Asiatic streams are inferi- 

 or in size to those of the American continent. The principal rivers descend from the northern, 

 eastern, and southern declivities of the great central table-lands into the x\rctic, Pacific, and 

 Indian Oceans. The Yenissey is the largest ; the Oby and the Lena are also large rivers. The 

 Hoang-ho., and the Kiang have an easterly course. The Irawaddy^ the Ganges., the Indus, 

 and the Euphrates flow south. Malte Brun gives the following estimate of the proportional 

 volumes, or, to speak more exactly, of the surface of the running waters of this part of the 

 world. The total being taken as unity, then 



0.31 

 0.02 

 0.15 

 0.27 

 O.OS 

 0.10 

 O.OG 

 0.03 



7. Seas. Asia contains several large inland bodies of water, which are iinproperly called 

 seas. They are principally salt. The largest of these is the Caspian Sea., which receives 

 several considerable rivers, but has no outlet ; its bed is indeed several hiindred feet lower than 

 the ocean. It is 650 miles in length by 250 in breadth, and covers an area of about 245,000 

 square miles. It is in many places too shallow for navigation, although in some parts very 

 deep. It abounds in sturgeon, beluga, salmon, and other fish, and several species of seal are 

 taken in its waters. The Sea of Okotsk, the Sea of Japan or Gulf of Corea., the Eastern 

 Sea, between the Loochoo islands and China, and the Chinese Sea to the south of Formosa, 

 are large bays on the eastern coast. The Sea of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, the Persian 

 Gulf and the Red Sea, are the principal arms of the sea on the south. The Red Sea is about 

 1,400 miles in length, but nowhere more than 200 in breadth; it has few good harbors, and 

 the navigation is rendered difficult b)^ storms, shoals, and coral reefs. 



S. Straits. The Straits of Babelmandel connect the Red Sea wiili the Arabian Gulf. 

 The Straits of Ormuz lie between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Ormuz. The Strait of 

 Malacca, which separates Sumatra from the continent, and the Strait oj Sineapore, between 

 the island of Sineapore and Malacca, are the most frequented of Asia. The Strait of Corea 

 on the south, and that of Soitgar or Sangar on the north, connects the Sea of Japan with the 

 ocean, and the Strait of Laperouse connects that sea with the Sea of Okotsk. The Channel 

 of Tartary flows between the continent and the island of Seghalien ; and Bhering''s Strait di- 

 vides the eastern and western hemispheres. 



9. Peninsulas. Asia Minor, between the Levant and the Black Sea, Arabia, the Dcccan, 

 Malacca, Corea, and Kamtschatka are the most remarkable peninsulas of Asia. 



10. Islands. On the eastern coast are the Kurile Islands ; Seghalien, belongmg partly to 

 China and partly to Japan ; the Japanese Archipelago ; and Formosa, the Loochoo isles, and 

 Hainan belonging to China. Near the coast of Malacca are the Junkselon, JS^icobar, and 

 Andaman islands. On the coast of Hindostan are Ceylon, the Laccadives, and Maldives. In 

 the Mediterranean, Cyprus, and in the Archipelago, Rhodes, Samos, Milylene, &c., belong to 

 Asia. 



1 1 . Climate. The great elevation of Central Asia, and the direction and elevation of the 

 mountainous chains, modify the climate of this continent, and give it a peculiar character. In 



111 



mu • c c'-i • S flowing to the N. are as 

 Ihe rivers ot Siberia { „ ■ ° i -r. 



I flowing to the L. 



" of China and Chinese Tartary 



" of all India .... 



" of Central Asia .... 



" of Asiatic Turkey . 



" of Persia with Armenia 



" of Arabia .... 



