The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-02-24
Davidson College, Feb. Sd, 1854.
Wonderful works OF the Creator.

Wonderful Works Oh the Creator
The mariner who first crossed the Central At
lantc IN search of world was astonished
when, on the Oth September, 1892 he found him.
self in the midst OF that great BANK of sea weed
the sea weed meadow OF Oviedo-the SaraGossa
sea, which, with varying breadth of 100 10 800
miles. stretches over twenty five degrees of Iati
tGde, covering 26O GOO square miles in surface
like huge fonting garden, in which countless
my riads of minute animals find food and shelter
Now, it is the eddy of numerous sea rivers which
collect IN one spot and the cold water Of the
Northern Atlantic mixing with the warm streams
OF the southern and western currents which pro.
duce the temperature most fitted 10 promote this
amazing development OF vegetable and animal
life. What becomes of the dead remains of this
vast marine growth? Do they decompose as fast
as they are produced? Or do they accumulate
into deposits of peculiar coal, destined 10 reward
the researches of future geoIogsts and engineers.
when the Atlantic OF day has become the hab-
table land of after time! In The chart of the
Pacific Ocean we presented with another re-
markable instance of the Influence of SEA rivers
on vegetation.
From the shores Of South Victoria on the Ant.
arctic continent, stream Of cold water sixty de.
grees in Width, Ohe reader will recollect that in
high latitudeS the degrees OF Longitude are verv
+,""--Iil lifts slowly aLnnes in a northeast and
eaSt"rly direction across The Southern PaciGc ,,I
II imPIng's upon The South American coast 10 IN,
South OF Valparaiso. There it divides INTO Two
arms one OF which stretches south and cast
doubles Cape Horn, and penerates into the sootb.
western Atlantic; the other flows northens, and
then northwest along the coast of Chill and Perm
carrying colder waters into The warm sea. and
producing colder air "lcng Ihe low plains which
Sire.ch from 'Ee shores OF the Pacific TO the base
Of the Andes. This current, discovered NJ Hmm.
II, called
nef"'ure OF The air above twelve drgrees hile !
Nat OF the water itself is sometimes as much as
""htY-tour degrees colder than that of the sill
waters OF The ocean through which it runs The
ou ar seriously affects vegetation along be whole
u 'he coast; at the same time that The cold stream
his"s logs and mlsts, which not only concealed
NE sh"rrs and pefplcx the navigator, but extend
inland also. and materially modify the climate.
The beautiful and beneficient character of this
'ooHyIng influence becomes not only apparent,
ut most impressive, when we consider. as the
AIN map OF the world shows us, that on the coast
PeTu n" rain ever falls: and that, like the des.
II OF Sahara, it ought therefore TO be condemned
perpetual baroness. But in consequence OF the
Do stream thus running along its borders '' The
hoSP'ere loses lis transparency, ard the sun is l
'Scured Tor months together. The vapors at Ii. G
a are oflen so thick that the sun seen through a
EN- with The naked eye assumes the apyearonce a
the moons disc. They commence in The morn
g, and extend over the plains in tie form of re- Il
'shinS fogs, which disappear soon alter midday. b
I'd are followed by heavy dews, which are pre- "
,ia'ed during the night" The morning mists Ii
"a evening dews thus supply the place OF the II
sent rains, and the verdure which covers the p
aims is the offspring of sea river. What y
armIng myth would The ancient poets have made al
oi this striking condensation !-Et{inburoh n
eUicac. in