in. 
Geography and Topography. 
Alaska may be conveniently divided, says Special Agent Ivan 
Petroff, in his report on the Population, Industries, and Resources 
of Alaska, 1884, into six geographical sections: 
1. The southeastern, containing 29,980 square miles, and com¬ 
prising the coast from Mount St. Elias in the north, to Portland 
Canal, in latitude 54 0 40' in the south, together with the islands of 
the Alexander Archipelago between Cross Sound and Cape Fox. 
This region differs from the bulk of Alaska, resembling British 
Columbia and the adjoining islands. It is densely wooded and 
exceedingly mountainous in its formation, the coast is deeply 
indented with bays and fiords, and for two-thirds of its length is 
sheltered by the islands of the archipelago. Coal has been dis¬ 
covered on many of the islands and on the mainland, but no 
practical use has thus far been made of the discoveries. Discov¬ 
eries of gold-bearing quartz were made on Baranof Island, but 
the ledges are not worked. Gold was also discovered on the 
peninsula between Taku and Chilkat inlets and on Douglas 
Island. The natives are chiefly engaged in the fur trade and 
fisheries. There are numerous glaciers, and the mountains range 
from 2,000 feet in height to 18,100 (Mount St. Elias). The chief 
river is the Stikine (see “River system”). 
2. The Kadiak division, containing 14,610 square miles, com¬ 
prises the south coast of the Aliaska Peninsula down to Zakharof 
Bay, with the adjacent islands, the Kadiak group, Cook Inlet, the 
Kenai Peninsula, and Prince William Sound. This country is 
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