THE TICINO. 
229 
It supports no church villages, but some winter 
dwellings, as Ternologio (1590), Molare (1500), Ma- 
tengo, etc. 
Higher still is the upper glacier boundary, which, 
however, is only visible on some of the highest peaks 
on the right side of the valley, while the left side 
soon dips below it. 
As in the valley of Uri, so here again it is pos- 
sible also to trace the lower glacier level. It is 
clearly marked at the opening of the defile of Dazio, 
and below it is the narrow groove due to the sawing 
action of tlie river. 
At Monte Piottino the sawing has not even now 
progressed sufficiently far to enable the river to act 
fully on the part of the valley above. On the other- 
hand, the same cause has increased the fall and con- 
sequently the erosive power of the water below, and 
the position of Biasca is in consequence probably 
somewhat lower than would otherwise have been the 
case. 
The same conditions repeat themselves at Chi- 
ronico, and we may look forward to a time when 
the lowering of the ridge here will drain the basin of 
Faido, deepen the cutting at Dazio, and even affect 
the Bedrettothal. 
Shortly above Biasca an enormous rockfall took 
