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SCENERY OF SWITZERLAND. 
The quantity of debris differs greatly in different 
glaciers: some, as the Rhone, Turtmann, etc., are 
comparatively free, while others, as the Zinal and 
the Smutt, have the lower ends almost entirely 
covered. 
It is difficult to give the actual number of glaciers 
in Switzerland, because some observers would rank 
as separate glaciers what others would consider as 
branches, but the number may be taken as between 
1500 and 2000. The total area is about 3500 
sq. km. 
The mean inclination of large glaciers is from 5 0 
to 8°, falling however even to less than a degree. 
The hanging glaciers are much steeper. 
I he greatest thickness of the ice can only be 
estimated. In one place of the Aar glacier Agassiz 
found a depth of 260 metres without reaching the 
bottom. From the transfiguration of the surface, 
however, it may safely be calculated that the ice 
must attain a thickness in places of 400 or even 
500 metres. It has been calculated that the ice of 
the Corner glacier would be enough to build three 
Londons. 
The distance to which a glacier descends depends 
partly on the extent of the collecting ground, partly 
on the configuration of the surface. The Gorner 
