214 
GEOLOGY OF THE SECOND DISTRICT. 
character of the basins of ordinary lakes of transition or secondary country. Some have sup¬ 
posed that they were crateriform; but no evidence, showing even the probability of this 
opinion, has ever presented itself to me, or fallen within the limits of my observations. I am 
induced to state the character of these lakes, and the nature of the basins which contain them, 
for the purpose of correcting the popular opinion in regard to them. 
Drainage. 
After what has been said of the slopes, valleys and mountains of this region, it is necessary 
to add only a few further remarks. The rivers and streams which effect the ordinary drainage 
of Essex county, radiate as it were from one point. The Adirondacks, which occupy the 
highest part of the water-shed of the north, give their waters to every point of the compass: 
this is strictly true as regards their final distribution. Rising, however, as many of the rivers 
do, from separate ranges, circumstances favor the interlockage of many of their higher 
branches. Thus, the several branches of the Hudson river rise many miles north of those of 
the Ausable; but the directions of the main trunks are to the north, east, south and west; 
namely, to the north, the Chateaugay and Salmon rivers ; to the northeast, the Saranac and 
Ausable rivers ; to the east, numerous small streams, which empty into Lake Champlain ; 
to the south, the branches of the Hudson river ; to the southwest, the East and West-Canada 
creeks ; to the west, the Black river ; and to the northwest, the De Grasse, Racket and St. 
Regis rivers. The amount of water which flows in these channels annually has never been 
estimated ; it is, however, immensely great. The quantity of rain which falls in the district 
north of the Mohawk valley, is probably much greater than upon any other part of the State 
of equal extent. Circumstances greatly favor condensation ; and owing to the coolness of the 
whole surface, evaporation takes place only to a limited extent, and hence the surplus waters 
flow off as has been described. Great, however, as the drainage must be, it is doubtful 
whether, if poured solely into the great flood of the St. Lawrence, it would add sensibly to 
the importance and magnitude of this river. 
