Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1851-08-12


RISE AND FALL OF LAKE SUPERIOR.
There is a periodical rise and fall of the
water in this great lake that has been no.
,iccd and accounted for BY various theories,
none OF which bave appeared to Us satisfac
tory, Besides this rise there are frequent
accidental or irregular risings and fallings
|inahis as we'll as in all the other large lakes,
and which have been supposed 10 be the reg
ulartides Of these inland seas, and origins
ting in the same causes. But as this regu-
lar rise occurs only once year, il CANNOT Of
course be referred 10 tidal causes. The wa
ter commences rising above and below the
SIe.. Marie Falls in June, and continues TO
rise very gradually ill the last Of August.
Il then slowly falls I'LL the following May.
at which lime il is al lis lowest ebb. We
have noticed this rise for several years, and
think its highest regular flow has been about
three leet, varying, however, from TWO to
threee feet with different seasons.
The cause Of this phenomenon will ap.
pear evident, we think, when we consider
The peculiar situation Of this great body of
waller. Lake Superior is situated in high,
northern latitude, and surrounded by a
mountainous country, collecting lis vast sup.
ply Of water from thousand streams, from
the north and SOUTH east and west. During
the winter season there is no rain in the re-
gion Of this lake, bul ihe snow accumuates
10 agreat denh on the moyniains surround
ing The lakesfthe countless streams are fet
tered with ice, and an incalcuable amount
of water is thrown out in the shape Of ice
banks on twelve hundred miles Of coast.
Unlike the other large lakes, il receives no
additions TO its waters from the rains and
melted SHOWS of winter, and thus, while It's
supplies are nearly all cut off, the rapids of
Ste. Marie are constantly lessening its vol
ume.
The rains commence end snow begins 10
melt in April, or a lille before, and the riv-
ers and streams are loosened Of their icy
bands, and the immense basin of Lake Su
peror begins rapidly TO be filled; its outlet
al Saul 81. Marie, being narrow and shallow,
the water does NOT escape as fast as it falls
from the thousand streams and storms, and
i, consequently rises. 1t might be supposed
by those unacquainled with The vast extent
Of the lake, that this rise would be more
sudden, like that of great river, and that
its effect would be noticeable al this place
sooner than the first of June, and ended be-
fore the first Of September; but il must be
recoIlected that The ice and snow on The cold
northern mountains are not suddenly melt.
ed The present season. snow was seen on
the northern slopes Of the mountain ranges
Of the south shore Of the lake, as late as
The tenth Of June, and among The higher
mountains of the north shore, ii has been
seen in places during the whole ofthat month.
The great extent of the lake both prevents
sudden rise and serves 10 proong it after
the immediate cause has been removed. r
The knowledge of This rise and fall is
generally known 10 masters Of vessels run
ming - this por, and is Of some importance
10 them, as the wafer on the "ilals" of The
81. George is considerably lower in May
than in June, July and August; from which
time il begins 10 fall again. This rise is
considerably modified, undoubtedly, by the
difference in The seasons; in wet season il
would be greater; in dry season, and by
reason Of The greater evaporation of water
on The lake and on The land, il would be less
This, we believe, is the only periodical rise
and fall, plainly percepdbIe 10 common
observer, on Lake Superior. There are
other risings and lallings Of the wafer in
this lake, and The singular phenomenon Of
The "lhree great waves" that we will notice
another week-Lake Superior Journal.