Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-03-16
The Dead Sea of Arizona.

color, arising from the prevalence Of
calcareous deposits. 1t well deserves
the name suggested by an early visit
or-the dead Sea of the West. p
Not even that wondrous sea, whose
bitter waters wash the ruined sites of
Sodom and Gomorrah, presents a
scene of greater desolation. Four
teen years had passed-how short a
time it seemed since my trusty
guide, 4usef Badra, pointed out to me
from the st. Saba road the shores of
the Dead Sea. | could almost imag-
inc myself there again. Yet for gran
deur of scenery, and for interesting
geological phenomena, the lake of the
Western Sierras is far superior to the
Oriental Sea. Here the traveller,
whether artist. geologist, botanist or
poet, might spend many mont1s, and
find ample occupation for every hour
Of his time.
The lake is eighteen miles in length
by about ten or twelve in width. On
the western side are distinct water
marks, showing that in former years
it attained an elevation of eight hun
dred to one thousand feet above its
present level. This would indicate
a superficial area of such vast magni-
tude that it must have resembled a
great inland sea. On the eastern
side is a gap or depression in the
hills, through which it must have flow
ed, covering an immense area Of the
great Walker River basin 1t is not
improbable that it was once a contin-
uouS sea to Walkers Lake. But |
will not hazard any cOnjectures on
this point; for when one goes beyond
the bare facts, as he sees them, in
such a country as this, the imagina-
tion is bewildered. A vague idea pO-
sesses the mind that all the great in
terror basins, including that of Salt
Lake, might have formed a grand in
termediate ocean, stretching from the
far north to the Gulf Of California,
between the great parallel ranges of
the Cascades and Sierra Nevadas to
the west and the Rocky Mountains to
the east.
On the Sierra side of the lake there
are points of woodland which extend
some distance into the water. Back
from the shore deep canons, rocky
and precipitous, with ridges Of pine
on each side, cut their way into the
heart of the mountains; and huge
boulder5, hurled down from the dizzy
heights, stand like castles on the
beach. From innumerable ravines
fresh water springs, and streams pour
their tribute into the lake. There is
no visible outlet; yet the bitterness
of the water is retained and there is
seldom a perceptible rise. Even in
the great food of 50, when every ra-
vine poured down a roaring torrent,
the rise did not exceed a few inches /;
and during the continuance of the
flood, after the reception of the first
volume Of water, the level of the lake
remained unchanged 1t would seem
that there must be a subrerranean
outlet; yet there is no evidence that
the surplus water again reaches the
surface. The probability is, it be
comes absorbed Ill the dry sands of
the desert.
On the eastern shore low plains or
alluvial bottoms, incrusted with alkali,
show in distinct curvicula rims, COM
posed of caIcareous deposits, the grad
ual retrocession of the lake to its
present level The beach is strewn
with beautiful specimens of boracic
or alkaline lncrustations. Weeds,
twigs, stones, and even dead birds
and animals are covered by this pecu-
liar coating, and present the appear
ance of coral formations. Some spec
linens that | picked up are photo
graphic in the minuteneSs and delica-
CIV Of their details. When broken
open the fibres of leaves, the feathers
of birds, the grain of wood are found
impressed in the calcareous moulding
with exquisite perfection. Almost
every conceivable variety OF form may
be found among these incrustations.
White columns and elaborate ia.
cades, like those of the ruined temples
of Greece, stand on the desert shore
to the north. Archways and domes
and embellishments are represented
with astonishing fidelity. 1t is com
monty supposed that these are forma
tiOns of white coral; but there can be
no doubt that they are produced by
the chemical action of the water
which at frequent intervals is forced
up through the assures Of the eartf
by subterranean heat These springs
are numerous, and probably form
around them base Of calcareous mat
ter, which by constant accretions rises
above the surrounding level.
A curious and rather disgusting de
posit of worms, about two feet higt
by three or four in thickness, extend;
like a vast rim around the shores of
the lake. | saw no end to it during
a walk of several miles along the
beach. These worms are the larva
Of flies. originally deposited in float
ing tissue on the surface Of the water
So far as | could discover, most of
them were dead. They lay in solit
oily mass, exhaling peculiar thougl
not unpleasant odor in the sum-
Swarms of small black flies covered
them to the depth of several inches
Such was the multitude of these flies
that my progress was frequently ar
rested by them as they flew up
Whether they were engaged in an al
tempt to identify their own progeny
or. cannibal-like, were devouring the
children of their enemies, it was i'm
possible to determine. The former
seemed to be rather hopeless under
taking amid such a mixed crowd. The
air for circle of several yards was