The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-07-28
MORE BIG THINGS OF EARTH.

The largest inland sea is the Caspian,
living between Europe and Asia. 1t
greatest length is $50 miles, it's great
est breadth 27O miles, and its area no.
600 miles. Great Salt Lake in Utah
which may be properly termed an inland
sea, is about 80 miles long, and has a
varying breadth of from "a to 80 miles.
Its surface is about 1920 feet above the
level of the sea, whereas the surface of
the Caspian is 81 feet below the ocean
level.
The biggest trees in the world are the
mammoth trees of California. One of
a grove in Tulare county. according to
measurement made by members OF the
State Geological Survey was shown to
be 566 feet high 10U feet in circumfer-
ence at base, and 76 feet at a point of II
feet above the ground. Some of the
trees are 376 feet high and "a feet in di-
ameter Some of the largest that have
been felled indicate an age of from g.
600 to 5000 years.
The largest empire in the world is
that of Great Britain, comprising s.
557, ,759 quare miles, more than a sixth
part of the land of the globe, and en-
bracing under its rule nearly a sixth
part of the population of the world. In
territorial extent the Unite States ranks
third, containing 2, $50, PAS square miles
| including Alaska; i'll population it ranks
I fourth, with its 50000.000 of people
Russia ranks second.
The longest tunEel in the world is
that of St. GOthaTd. on the line of Rail
I road between Lucerne and Milan The
summit of the tunnel is $50 feet below
the surface at Andermait, and 1000
feet beneath the peak OF Kastelhorn, of
the st. GOthard group. The tunnel is
E f.. of 4 = a
to the crown of the arched roof 1t is
nine and one-third miles long, one and
five-eight miles longer than the Mount
Gents tunnel.
The highest mOnolith is the obelisk at
Karnak, in Egypt. Karnak is on the
east bank of the Nile, near Luxor, and
occupies part OF the site of ancient
Thebes. The obelisk is ascribed to
Hatasu, sister of Pharaoh ThOthmes
III, who reigned about 1900 B. {. Its
whole length is l22 feet, its weight 400
tons. Its height without pedestal is
los feet. The heieth of the obelisk in
Genital! Park without pedestal is 6S feet
II inches, its weight about one hundred
and 5lxty-eight tons.
The most remarkable whirlpool is
the maalstrOm, off the north west cost
of Norway, and southwest of Moskinoe-
sol, the most southerly Of the Lofden
isles 1t was once supposed to be un-
fathOmahle, but the depth has been
shown not to exceed twenty fathoms
The whirlpool is navigabIe under ordi-
nary circumstances. but when the wind
Is northwest il often attains great fury
and becomes exceedingly dangerous.
Under strong gales the maastTom has
been shown 10y official statistics to run
at The rate OF twenty-siK miles an hour
The largest library is the Bibliothique
National in Paris. founded by Louis
XIV 1t contains 2 000. 600 volumes,
100000 pamphlets, 1S5. 600 manuscripts.
100000 maps and charts, and $50 600
coins and medals. The collection of en-
cravings exec Is 1,500. 900, contained
in some 10000 volumes. The portraits
number about 100, 000. The building
which contains these treasures is situa-
ted on the Rue Richelieu. 1t length is
five hundred and forty feet. its breadth
one hundred and thirty. The largest
library in New \ ork, in respect OF sep
crate works, is the Astor. About 190.-
OOS volumes are on its shelves.