336 



/. D. Dana on the Plan of Development 



In the body of New Zealand, however, and some other parts, 

 the transverse trend of Eastern America is represented. 



Now what is the relation between the borders of the conti- 

 nents as to features and structure, and the extent of the oceans ? 



1. Look first to North America. Observe the general direction 

 of the coast conforming to the prevalent trends of the globe, 

 the northeast and northwest, and thus giving it its triangular 

 form. See the low Appalachians facing the small Atlantic, the 

 lofty Eocky Mountains, mostly a double line of heights, facing 

 the broad Pacific, besides a second towering range, the Cascade 

 and Sierra Nevada, nearer the sea. May we not say, As the 

 height of the Appalachians to the size of the Atlantic, so is the height 

 or extent of the Rocky range to the size of the Pacific ? 



In South America, there is the same relation — the low Brazil- 

 ian mountains on the Atlantic side, the lofty Andes on the 

 Pacific, and the latter exceeding the Kocky Mountains as much 

 as the South Pacific exceeds the North Pacific ; so that we may 

 make another proportion, As the height of the Rocky Mountains to 

 the North Pacific, so is the height and boldness of the Andes to the 

 South Pacific. 



In the Orient, the mountains towards the Atlantic, or those of 

 Europe, are low and limited, compared with the long and lofty 

 ranges of the Pacific side ; and these last are inferior to the Him- 

 alayas, the sublimest heights of the world, which face the Indian 

 ocean — a large and open ocean, while the Pacific towards Asia 

 is much encumbered by islands. 



In Africa, the loftiest and longest mountains are those of 

 Abyssinia, on the east, facing the Indian Ocean, some of whose 

 ridges are eleven to fourteen thousand feet in height, and one 



which run nearly north-northwest; making thus a great sweeping curve, of several 

 strands, over 6000 miles long. The Sandwich or Hawaian islands on the north side 

 of the equator (2000 miles in whole length) is the opposite or northern side of the 

 same system, slightly curving with the convexity to the north: while the Marque- 

 sas and the Fanning or Washington group lie along the axis of this great Central 

 Pacific area. The other system is concentric around Australia, (New Holland). The 

 line of new Hebrides, near northwest in course, is continued in the Salomon Islands, 

 and New Ireland, becoming gradually east and west in the Admiralty Islands, north 

 of New Guinea. The line of New Caledonia, another curving strand in the system, 

 is continued in the Louisiade group and New Guinea, and becomes east and west 

 in western New Guinea. The foot of the New Zealand boot, and the Coral Archi- 

 pelago between New Caledonia and Australia accord with the system. The posi- 

 tion of these lines concentric around Australia correspond with the idea that the 

 position and extent of this continent, has had some influence in determining the 

 directions. 



These two systems, the Central Pacific and Australasian, though so distinct, are 

 yet bound together in one . For while the great central range has its main course 

 along the Kingsmills and Radack groups, it sends off at the Kingsmills, a western 

 branch, the Carolines, which is actually parallel with the lines of the Australasian 

 system. 



The transverse trend of New Zealand, which is continued in the Friendly Islands 

 north, is the correlate of the northwestern, the two having a mutual dependence, and 

 together distinguishable in many groups of islands as well as in the features of the 

 Continents. 



