The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-03
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? THE NORTH POLE. I
The Norwegian Polar Expedition,

The Norwegian Polar Expeditions.
The German geographer, Dr.. Peter,
mann, publishes in the current number oil
his Gecora pliSste Mlthsilungen, an elabo.
rate report on the recent Norwegian ex.
petitions to the Polar Seas. It appears
from the observations and measurements
made by Captain Johannesen and other
commanders, that the sea grows deeper
towards the North. The whole Of the in.
let between Nova Zembla and the Russian
coast Is less than 100 iathoms deep, ex.
cept in three small places, while to the
North Of Nova Zembla the places where
the sea is 100 fafhoms deep ;areiofs great
extent, and OF 70 deg. North latitude the
depth attains 100 fathoms. The deepest
part which has yet been sounded in these
waters Is in the Sea Of Kara, East Of the
Island Of Waigatsch 40 deg. North lati.
tude), where the depths is 400 fathoms.
AS to the climate, the gulfstream Is shown
by the Norwegian explorers 10 extend to
Nova Zembla, The stream Is here from
100 TOGO geographical miles wide, be-
tween the 10th and 74th degs. OF North
latitude, and Of considerable warmer
temperature than that Of the adjoining
seas. II proceeds from West to North
along ecoast Of Nova Zcmbla, where It
meets another warm current proceeding
from the mouths Of the Obi and the Yen.
issei IN the South K . lr. aosig
The most important result Of the Nor
Wegian expeditions, SAYS DIR. PetaRmann,
Is that they prove complete dissolution
Of the ice In the Sea Of Kara, and that the
fragments Of ice which are still, TO be
found there in the Summer months in no
way impede either the navigation or the
fishery. Il Is now beyond doubt that
this sea, which has hitherto been in such
bad repnte, canbe trayersed mall dlIec-
tons, and that il Is possible to sail round
the whole Of the Island Of Nova Zembla.
THIS completely demoliShes the old super
stitlon which gave the Sea Of Kara the
name Of IN "ice.cellar." During the first
half OF the year, up to about July I, the
navigation is barred by huge beltof ice
between the 6sth and 72d degrees Of North
latitude, East and WestOi tie KolgOuyetf
Islands. This belt extends Northeast
ward from the Russian coast to Nova
Zembls, and even in May It's average
breadth Is one hundred and fiIty.fvc
geograpbieatUliles. Itpay, however, be
avoided, thinks DR., Petermann, by steer.
ing to the Norteast from Norway, and to
tho Northwest from the White Sea up TO
theTSd or 74Ih degree Of North latitude.
During tho whole Of the months of July
and August, the Sea ofKarG Is completely
navigable5as lis, average, temperature Is
2.25 degrees R., and ice dissol4es In those
regions at q temperature Of 8 degrees. 1t
appears from these data, concludes Dr..
Petermann, that even in attitudes so high
as 70 degrees, the sea, though blocked BY
huge masses Of Ice for ten months in the
year, is open for navigation, and complete.
ly free nom Ice during the two remaining
months; and that scientific discoveries Of
great importance might DO expected from
an expedition sent into the Polar seas by
way Of the Sea Of Kara, the islands Of
New Siberia, and Behring Street.