154 



as dry and barren as the surrounding moun- 

 tains. 



The mean depth of the lake is from twelve to 

 fifteen fathoms ; the deepest parts are not, as is 

 generally admitted, eighty, but thirty-five or 

 forty deep. Such is the result of soundings 

 made with the greatest care by Don Antonio 

 Manzano. When we reflect on the vast depths 

 of all the lakes of Switzerland, which, notwith- 

 standing their position in high valleys, almost 

 reach the level of the Mediterranean, it appears 

 surprising, that greater cavities are not found 

 at the bottom of the lake of Valencia, which is 

 also an Alpine lake. The deepest places are 

 between the rocky island of Burro and the point 

 of Cana Fistula, as opposite the high mountains 

 of Mariara. But in general the southern part 

 of the lake is deeper than the northern: nor 

 must we forget, that, if all the shores be now 

 low, the southern part of the basin is the near- 

 est to a chain of mountains with abrupt decli- 

 vities; and we know, that even the sea is 

 generally deepest where the coast is elevated, 

 rocky, or perpendicular. 



The temperature of the lake, at the surface, 

 during my abode in the valleys of Aragua, in 

 the month of February, was constantly from 23° 

 to 237°, consequently a little below* the mean 



* From 0*6° to 1*3°. 



