File:The earth and its inhabitants (1881) (14784001032).jpg

Identifier: earthitsinhabita481recl (find matches)
Title: The earth and its inhabitants ..
Year: 1881 (1880s)
Authors: Reclus, Elisée, 1830-1905 Ravenstein, Ernest George, 1834-1913 Keane, A. H. (Augustus Henry), 1833-1912
Subjects: Geography
Publisher: New York, D. Appleton and company
Contributing Library: MBLWHOI Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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belt, but farther towards the south-west, and in the midst of adesolate region of crags, gullies, and lakes, rises one of the most elevated hillsof this district, the Merrick (2,764 feet). A rugged upland stretches north-eastward from the Louther Hills, and connects them with the Moorfoot (2,136 feet)and Lammermuir Hills (1,722 feet), the spurs of which extend to the seashore.A second range of hills, less elevated and formed of more recent rocks, runs parallelwith the main range, and sinks down to the level country of the Clyde and Forth.In a remote geological epoch, whilst the old red sandstone and the carboniferousstrata were being deposited in the sea which then covered Scotland, numerousactive volcanoes rose above the surface of the water. These volcanoes account for 804 THE BRITISH ISLES. the flykes of lava and beds of scoritic wliieh we now meet in the midst ofsedimentary roeks. Ueing; better eapable of resisting destructive agencies Fig. 149.—Mount Meiuuck.Scale 1 : 160,000.
Text Appearing After Image:
435 4° 25 w.of c. - Miles. than rocks of other formations, the products of this volcanic action stillrise here and there into hills and promontories, which impart a pleasingvariety to the country. The small range of the Pentland Hills (1,840 feet), SOUTHERN SCOTLAND. 305 which terminates to the south of Edinburgh, is one of these groups of eruptiverocks. The plain of the Forth and Clyde is traversed by a canal whose summit levellies at an elevation of only 157 feet, and at this spot the separation between theLowlands and the mountain region of !N^orthern Scotland is consequently wellmarked. But higher up, in Strathclyde, there exists another breach in themountains, for the Clyde, which now flows to the westward, formerly pursued itscourse to the east, into the valley of the Tweed, and if measures were not taken toprotect against erosion the gravel deposits of the plain of Biggar, to the south ofLanark, the Clyde would resume its ancient course.* The water-parting betweenthe Clyde and

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