Wichita eagle., 1888-06-03

distance Alpine islands sunk in the sea-
The Aleutian islands strike boldly out into
/ the broad ocean BY themselves, forming
one of the most cons picuous chains IN the
world, as seen on any good map. " lille
the islands on the eastern horn, or those
in Southeastern Alaska. hug the mainland
closely, and few people know OF their ex-
istence, although # is estimated that they
number some II 900 altogether, not includ-
ing the jutting rocks, reefs and lslets. and
/ give a coast-line OF 10000 TO 5000 miles.
The thousands Of miles of channels be-
tween these Alpine islands Of Southeastern
Alaska form some CT the most picturesque
Waterways in the world. and in the summer
time trip through them is one Of the most
delightful in the world, if taken at the
proper time, or during about June and July.
/ The fiat land facing the Arctic ocean and
reaching almost to the Yukon river is
locally known as the tundra, pronounced
toon-drah) and as it freezes a number of
feet deep each winter from the intense
polar cold of that part of the Territory,
and only about half that depth thaws out
each short Arctic summer, the lower. I'M
melted strata of ice or frozen soil acts as
an impervious shield to prevent the drain
age of the water down through the soil, and
as a consequence the melted water remains
on the fat surface forming, in the summer
months deep bog or marsh into which the
traveller may IN many places sink up to
his middle, unless stopped sooner by the
frozen soil below, which is the only thing
solid to be encountered. In the winter time
this is a dreary waste of level snow and ice
which is not broken until the Yukon River
valley is encountered to the South, where
the hardy Northern spruce forests begin
and spread over all the rest OF Alaska, cX-
cept the AeUuan Islands and the mountain
ranges above the timber line. No picture
] of this desolate desert of ice and snow
/ would convey any adequate impression of
the country. Simply imagine the ocean
frozen over and the ice covered with drifts
of snow and it would be Northern Alaska
in the Arctic winter; while green bog With
many shallow lakes and sloughs is the sum-
mer scene.
Where the level Arctic country breaks
into the mountainous or hillv part along the
Yukon River some curious physical aspects
. are presented Before the land becomes
wholly hIly to the southwark, peaks of
ancient mountain ranges rise boldly from
the level plain like Alpine islands from
sea. The picture we give is good lliustra-
ton Of this. being two hills of this charac-
ter described found near the mouth of the
: Koyulluk river, which drains the fiat coun-
try north of the Yukon. The highest Hill
/ seen is the Koyulluk Sopka of the old Rus
! sian explorers and can he seen for fifty
I miles up and down the Yukon river as
prominent landmark.
Jumping clear to Southeastern Alaska,
there is given picturesque view from the
water channels spoken of as so numerous
in that part, all OF which assists to form
good idea of the character of the country.
FREDERICK SCHwATKA.
NOTE.-Those readers desiring 10 follow Lieut..
Schwatka's series CT articles on Alaska, wh4ea
VIII appear from time to tine, but each compete
within itself. should preserve the map gwen IN
this weeks paper, as twill ASSIST thci IN tracing
his description OF that interesting country.