Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-06-11
The Depth Of the Ocean.

1ut OCCdu Is HUI d UObJOmIGSS Qe6D
except to the poets and to yong ladies,
neither Of whom are familiar with the mod
ern Improvements in taking soundngs.
Not only have skilled seamen known how
to reach the bottom and fetch parts of it
up to the top from great depths, but math-
emathicians have given themselves the
trouble to calculate theoretically its aver
age depth. Button gave this at 240 faith
oms or 1,440; Lacsille gives from 164 to
2l3 fathoms; Lapace, enormously estimat
ing the mean elevation of the land at 3 $50
feet-three times the heg ght now allowed
by physical geographers thought the wa
ters of the sea must be about equal depth,
Young assigned depth of 2,7S5 fathoms
to the Atlantic, and about 5000 to the
great South Sea. According to this esti-
mate, other mathematicians add, the Paci
fic must be at its greatest point fifteen and
a half miles in depth, which is scarcely
probable. But though little is known of
the greatest depths OF the oceans, we do
know that their bottoms are of unequal
depth, and that they contain mountains as
we'll as vast rolling plains; and Mr.. Re
clus takes advantage of such soundings as
have been made. to illustrate in striking
manner the Inequalities of the bottom. If
he remarks, the waters of the Mediterra
mean were suddenly lowered about ITO
fathoms, it would be divided into three
distinct sheets of water; Italy would be
joined to Sicily, Sicily would be united by
an isthmus to Africa, the Dardanells and
the Bosphorus would be closed, but the
outlet at Gibraltar would remain in free
communication with the Atlantic Ocean
If the level we're lowered by about $50
fathoms, E Egeao, the Euxine and the Adri-
attic would wholly disappear. or only leave
their beds unimportant pools the remain
der OF the Mediterranean would be divid ed
into several seas like the Caspian, either
isolated, or communicating with each other
by narrow channels. and the terminal
promontory of Europe would be joined by
the Isthmus of Gibraltar to the mountains
of Africa. A depression of LILO fathoms
would leave nothing but three inland lakes;
to the west triangular basin occupying
the center of the depression between
France and Algeria in the middle, a long
cavity extending from Crete to Sicily and
eastward, a hollow lying in front of the
Egyptian coast. The greatest depth of
the Mediterranean exceeding 200 faith
oms, lies to the north of the Syrtes. almost
in the geometrical center of the basin.
Again, the British Channel, that least
agreeable of seas to good Americans wish
ing to reach Paris from London, is mar
row arm of sea, which may be considered
as mere accident of the earth's surface,
or kind Of maritime trench, SO iDconsd-
cradle is its depth compared with that OF
the ocean. In order to form true notion
of the depth of the Channel compared
with its width, one must imagine minia-
ture of this sea drawn on scale of one
yard for two thirds of mile, on perfect
ly horizontal surface. This sheet of wa
ter would not have less tnan SAT yards ol
length, and its width would vary, accord
ing to the coast line, between 36 and 240
yards. And yet, Notwithstanding this
considerable surface, the greatest depth
would be two inches at the entrance. In
the deepest hollow in the Channel, be.
tween the hillock representing Star Point
and that of tho Sept Isles, it would be
less than two and half inches. A spar.
row could hop this miniature sea.
Considered as whole, the North Allan
tic is depression whose sides descend
gradually toward q central hollow situated
between the coasts of the United States
the Bermudas, and the bank of Newfound
land. A fall of waters of Ito fathom:
would reveal the sub marine ground work
upon which France, Spain and the British
Isles rest. This is indeed the true founda.
tion of the European continent, for immc
diately beyond this basement, which from
the extreme angle of the old world, the
bed Of the sea, at an inclination of about
eight degrees, descends gradually from 1IO
fathoms to 1,640 and 2.ls7 fathoms be
low the waves. A fall in its level of ,09z
fathoms would diminish the width of the
Atlantic more than one half, would leave
the Gulf of Mexico completely dry, and
save only an elongated lake in the central
part of the Caribbean Sea. If the present
level were lowered by 2,187 fathoms, q
. continent separated from Europe and
America by two narrow channels, and ex,