Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-04-16
THE GREAT LAKES

THE GREAT LANES
We persume very few persons are aware
of the vast extent of these inland seas
covering as they DO an area almost as
large as the continent of Europe. Pro
fessor Drake, Of Louisville, visited them
last summer, and has made public the re-
suit of his observations. The chain OF
lakes extend over nearly eight and a half
degrees of latitude IN breadth, and six
teen degrees of longitude in length. The
extent of their surfaces is estimated al
$4,000 square miles; and the area Of
country drained BY them, is computed az
1000 square miles. Their relative sizes
are as ollows:--Ontario, $500 square
miles; Erie, $500; St. Clair, $50; Huron.
20,40C; Michigan, $4,000 Superior
| $4,000.
The average depth Of water in the dii-
ferent Lakes, is a question upon which
there is no certain information. Au,hori-
ties differ. DIR. Drake gives II as follows;
ST. Clair 30 feet, Erie 81, Ontario 800,
Superior 800, Huron and Michigan 1000.
In our standard works, Lake Erie Is
usually stated to have n depth Of lbs feet.
The deepest soundings have been taken
in Lake Huron. OF Saginaw Bay, $500
feet Of line have been sent down wi,h0u,
finding bottom.
The altitude of the Lakes varies step by
step from Ontario to Superior. LAKE On
tarlo Is 232 feet above the tie water o.
the S.. Lawrence. Erie Is 333 feet above
Ontario, and 500 feet above the tide wa,e.
at Albany. St. Clair IS six feet higher
than Erie; Huron and Michigan are
thirteen feet above s.. CLAIR, ana Supert
or lies iorty-four feet above them. Tbs
shows the curious fact. that while the sur
lace of Huron is GSi feet above the lcyc
/ of the ocean, Its bottom, ~ Saginaw Bay
/ is more than 1900 feet below the SAINT
level.
The waters Of these lakes, with OBJ
exception OF Erie and s.. CAR, arc rc
markatle for their transparent and deli
cious flavor. OF Lake Heron. Pro.c=so
| Drake asccrtaincd that the water 40 lh.
surface, and two hundred feet below % Oh,
same place, indicated precisely the sam.
temperature, to-wit: iity-siX degrees. IL
Explanation cf this fact Is this: he watrr
are s. pure that the rays Of the sun NEE
with no solid matter in suspension 20 az
rest aud retain heat.
There is q great curiosity connects
with these Lakes about 80 miles iro1
Kingston, near the outlet 81 tle l2v q
Quinte, Ia Canada. The writer OF tai'
visited 1t a few DAYS o-o, In company wit
Professor Lyeh Of LoHlln. Wh1 rroaolnc
ed 1t one OF the greatest cgriosiiics &c "a
kind he ever saw. Il is VIA, IS called {
: Scotland "a Tam" or mountain Lake.
. IS situated upon n conical hin about %
: fleet high. 1t Is cirCu.ar-abolt hall
: mile in diameter, and occupies nearly n
whole suffice Of the bin.
! The Lake is consequently eatirc'yriL
, out an inlet; yet small stream cousan
" escapes from one edge Of il, down ti
! side Of The hill, turning the wheel Of
q Touring mill, which has been erected ne.
> the summit. The level Of The water
y the Lake is supposed TO be about $50 te
q above that Of the bay below. As lhel
are no highlands within fifty or sixty mile
% or perhaps a greater distance, the curio'
question arises, from whence comes Il
lsupply for this raountain LaAet
= Professor Lvell, suPposes il 70 Cccur
r. the crater Of an extinct volcano, and
If receive lis waters through hidden sypho
:. from a great distance; but DID not comes
" with the popular belief in the neigh5e
n hood, that the fountain head was Lai
IN Erie, although it is supposed that they q
e cupy the same level Gin. Ailas.