great western chain. Its highest peaks are Mount Brown, nearly 16,000 ft.; Mount Hooker, 15,000 ft.; and Mount Murchison, 15,000 ft. The Cordilleras, in Mexico and Central America, forming the southern portion of the great western chain. Its highest points are Popocatapetl, 17,700 ft., and Orizaba, 17,500 ft. The Cascade Mountains, in the Canadian Dominion, between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific; highest point, Mount Hood, 12,000 ft. The Coast Range, near the coast, extending from California to Alaska. The highest points are St. Elias, 17,500 ft., and Mount Fairweather, 14,500 ft. The Alleghany Mountains, in the United States, running parallel with the east coast, and forming the eastern boundary of the basin of the Mississippi. The highest point is Mount Washington, 6,200 ft. Ozark Mountains, west of the Mississippi. This is a low chain, rising to the height of about 2,000 ft. PLAINS. The Great Plain of North America. This extends from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, a distance of about 3,000 miles. It is watered by the great rivers Mackenzie and Mississippi. The Atlantic Coast Plain, between the Alleghany Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. TABLE-LANDS. The Mexican Table-land, west of the Cordilleras. The Plateau of Guatemala, a continuation to the south of the Table-land of Mexico. The Table-land of Labrador. RIVERS. North America is well watered. It contains the second largest river in the world. (1) FLOWING INTO THE ARCTIC OCEAN. Mackenzie, 1,900 miles. (See Colonies, "Pupil Teachers' Course, Year II.") (2) FLOWING INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. Frazer, 450 miles. (See Colonies.) Columbia, or Oregon, 750 miles. (See United States.) Sacramento, or Buonaventura, 420 miles, rising in the high lands of the Oregon territory, and flowing south-west into the Pacific. At its mouth is the town and harbour of San Francisco. Colorado, 800 miles, rising in the Rocky Mountains, and flowing south-west into the Gulf of California. Its chief tributary is the Gila. (3) FLOWING INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO. Rio del Norte, or Rio Grande del Norte, 1,400 miles, rising in the Rocky Mountains, and flowing south-east into the Gulf of Mexico. It forms the boundary between the United States and Mexico. Mississippi, with its tributary Missouri, 4,000 miles, the second largest river in the world. (See United States.) Alabama, flowing south-west through the state of Alabama. (4) FLOWING INTO THE ATLANTIC. LAKES. North America contains the largest fresh-water lakes in the world. Superior, 32,000 sq. m. Huron, 25,000 sq. m. Ontario, 7,000 sq. m. These five lakes form a connected group, the largest body of fresh water in the world. Lake Michigan lies in the United States; Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario are situated between the United States and the Canadian Dominion. Lake Superior is connected with Lake Huron by the River St. Mary. Lakes Huron and Erie are connected by the River and Lake of St. Clair and the River Detroit. Lakes Erie and Ontario are united by the River Niagara, which forms the celebrated Falls of Niagara, descending 164 feet, and artificially by the Welland Canal. Owing to their great size, these lakes are never entirely frozen over. They are connected with the sea by the River St. Lawrence. Winnipeg, 9,000 sq. m. Athabasca. Great Slave Lake. Great Bear Lake. These are the largest of a great chain of lakes, extending from Lake Superior to the Arctic Ocean. (See Colonies, Dominion of Canada.) Great Salt Lake, in Utah, United States. Nicaragua, in Central America. This lake is connected with the Caribbean Sea by the River San Juan. CLIMATE. North America has great diversities of climate. The northern parts are intensely cold. The southern parts are very hot, though the heat is modified by the narrowness of the continent, which brings it under the influence of the ocean. The western coast is warmer than the eastern. The central parts are colder than corresponding latitudes in Europe, owing to the flatness of the northern coast and consequent exposure to the Arctic winds. There is much rain in the tropical parts and in the vicinity of the great lakes. West of the Rocky Mountains the climate is dry. (2) FLOWING INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. Frazer, 450 miles. (See Colonies.) Columbia, or Oregon, 750 miles. (See United States.) Sacramento, or Buonaventura, 420 miles, rising in the high lands of the Oregon territory, and flowing south-west into the Pacific. At its mouth is the town and harbour of San Francisco. Colorado, 800 miles, rising in the Rocky Mountains, and flowing south-west into the Gulf of California. Its chief tributary is the Gila. (3) FLOWING INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO. Rio del Norte, or Rio Grande del Norte, 1,400 miles, rising in the Rocky Mountains, and flowing south-east into the Gulf of Mexico. It forms the boundary between the United States and Mexico. Mississippi, with its tributary Missouri, 4,000 miles, the second largest river in the world. (See United States.) Alabama, flowing south-west through the state of Alabama. (4) FLOWING INTO THE ATLANTIC. Savannah, 400 miles, LAKES. North America contains the largest fresh-water lakes in the world. Superior, 32,000 sq. m. Huron, 25,000 sq. m. Ontario, 7,000 sq. m. These five lakes form a connected group, the largest body of fresh water in the world. Lake Michigan lies in the United States; Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario are situated between the United States and the Canadian Dominion. Lake Superior is connected with Lake Huron by the River St. Mary. Lakes Huron and Erie are connected by the River and Lake of St. Clair and the River Detroit. Lakes Erie and Ontario are united by the River Niagara, which forms the celebrated Falls of Niagara, descending 164 feet, and artificially by the Welland Canal. Owing to their great size, these lakes are never entirely frozen over. They are connected with the sea by the River St. Lawrence. Winnipeg, 9,000 sq. m. Athabasca. Great Slave Lake. Great Bear Lake. These are the largest of a great chain of lakes, extending from Lake Superior to the Arctic Ocean. (See Colonies, Dominion of Canada.) Great Salt Lake, in Utah, United States. Nicaragua, in Central America. This lake is connected with the Caribbean Sea by the River San Juan. CLIMATE. North America has great diversities of climate. The northern parts are intensely cold. The southern parts are very hot, though the heat is modified by the narrowness of the continent, which brings it under the influence of the ocean. The western coast is warmer than the eastern. The central parts are colder than corresponding latitudes in Europe, owing to the flatness of the northern coast and consequent exposure to the Arctic winds. There is much rain in the tropical parts and in the vicinity of the great lakes. West of the Rocky Mountains the climate is dry. |