Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-05-24
MISC L A N IS.
SANDS BELOW THE OCEAN LEVEL.

oil DdSt - VI o"t A'E'~
wear. we described one of the instances OF
the great excuses of evaporation over rain
fall. namely, the Caspian Sea, OH which the
surface is as much below the ocean level as
our Lake Champlain is above the same,
namely, more than so feet. There are now
ever. two still more remark able cases OF the
same sort. the Dead Sea in Palestine and
the Great Desert or Sahra in Africa. Inc
former is remarkable for the great amount
or the depression, and the latter tor the I'M
mense surface depressed, being in fact the
bottom of an extensive island lake, totally
dried up by the heat Of a tropical climate,
aided by the absence Of feeding streams,
and by the ~rainless area which covers Its
greatest portion. 1t Is, on an average, 80
feet below the ocean, about as much as the
Caspian Sea; but it is remarkable for its eX-
tent, being nearly 1000 miles square, OF
nearly 1000, 900 square miles.
The French Government, having an eye
to the colonization of Northern Africa with
Algiers as a starting point, has tor some
time favored u project for restoring THIS
sandy waste to its primeYal condition by
cutting a communication with the ocean,
and 50 transforming it into a salt water III
land lake. The effect of this Oh the climate
of the surrounding country, and especially
on the colony of Alsiers, would unaolioted-
Nv be most beneficial, because the south
wind, instead Of blowing, as it does now,
over a sandy desert, would become a SCI
breeze this would increase thcrAlnfall, ana
change a ~rainlees district into q fruitful re-
zion. In a commercial point of view, more
ever. the benefits Of such u change could
not be oyerestimated The INTRODUCTION or
water transportation is especially advisable
in this tropical region, where he miserable
and utterly inefficient caravan is row the
only mode of carrying goods; ana without
doubt commercial cities would soon spring
up around the shores OF the proposed in
land sea, which would become the scene of
a mighty travel and traffic, as the lake
would give easy access to the surrounding
countries, and develop this part OF Africa
to an extent thus far utterly undreamed OF.
But it is we'll to look also at the disadvaE-
tages of this gigantic scheme. In the flrst
place, it will rob the ocean OF such an enor-
nous amount of water that its general sur
face will be lowered to an appreciate ex-
tent. In order to realize how much this
lowering will amount to, let us consider
that tie total terrestrial surface is, in round
numbers, 300 00, 600 square miles, of which
the ocean occupies three-quarters, or 100,
600, 900. Ii the estimate given OF the Des-
ert of Sahara, 4 ,000, 900 square miles, is cor
rect, 1t occupies one ~tlirty-eighth part OF
the oceans surface, and, therefore, every
foot of depth Of water distracted for the
Desert will diminish the ocean one thirty
eighth part of a foot !; and the withdrawal o.
water for a lake so feet deep wouldleave the
ocean level 50 by one thlrty-eight, or more
than two feet lower, which would be plain
" perceptible in the many harbors where
careful, tidal observations are made, and il
some cases changes may influence the ship
ping, robbing as it would do.all parts OF tia
world of over two feet depth of water, which
would be very bad in those localities Wher'
the harDors are shallow.
This much as to an immediate result; bu
the ultimate consequences would be mucl
more serious. Ut should be considered tina
this large inland lake, if once established
would have no fresh water supply, by xiv
ers !. but the sea water would c~ertainl,
rush in through the channel, to make "
for the large evaporation~ which we ma.
safely set down at 1,20s'ly $ OF water Pc
year for every square foot. This woul
lower the level 20 feet per year, which !
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