Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-28
Seven Million
Square Miles of
Earth Yet To Be
Penetrated by
Explorers.
By GARRETT P. sERvIss,

triumph of Captain Amund-
sen, has turned mems minds toward
the regions Of the earth which have
not yet been explored.
OF the Antarctic Continent itself
very little is known. BY pushing
straight to its center the explorers
have obtained a better general idea
of it's nature than they could have
got by merely studying its icy out
skirts. There is little doubt that IL
forms q vast tableland with a
greater mean elevation than any
other large division of the globe.
The evidences of the former ex-
istence there of a climate capable Of
maintaining forms Of life now
found only in temperate, or even
tropical, lands give to that snow
buried continent a fascination that
will for many generations draw ad-
venturers to its storm swept
plateaus.
But nearer home Ito say nothing
of the surroundings of the north
pole) there are vast unexplored
lands which promise discoveries of
the highest interest. 1t has been
estimated that out Of the $4,000, 900
square miles of land that the earth
contains. about 100000 are still
practically unknown, except in out
line.
Unexplored Antarctic Land.
OF this area, 100000 square
miles belong to Antartctiea
A popularity Of some Of the vet
UNEMPLOYED regions is that they
form parts of continents that have
! been inhabited, from time immem-
orial. by peoples representing the
highest civilizations that the earth
has known. Take Arabia, for in
stance. 1t is a land Of superlative
mystery, lying In close touch with
| the seats of ancient and modern
empires Of the first rank.
1t is three quarters encircied by
navigable seas and CULTS. 1t has
ports that are visited by the ships
| of all nations. II has given birth 70
q religion protested by more than
| 200.0o0.000 people. It is inhabited
| by race possessing splendid phys
zeal and mental qualities. 1t once
conquered an empire wider than
that of Rome, wherein the torch Of
knowledge Was kept burning dur
| ing tho Dark Ages OF Europe. It's
/ area exceeds that Of Europe west
Of the River VistuIa-and yet its
interior is almost absolutely IN
known to the world.
In the heart OF Arabia is a terri
tory, as large as Germany and
France combined, that has not a
single river, and yet it may not be
! altogether a desert Mounted on
/ his long-legged camel, the Arab
rides over his sandhills, disappears
beyond a horizon which he alone
transits, and is lost to all human
sight except that Of his own tribes
men, visiting scenes Of which no
others of Adams descendants have
any knowledge. Those small por-
| tons of the skirts Of Arabia that
| Europeans have penetrated are
among the most singular places on
the planet, but what lies back Of
them we can only guess.
Billions in Hidden Wealth.
South America, some of whose
lands are coming SO rapidly for
ward In recent years, is still full
Of unexplored mysteries.
In Peru, Colombia, and along the
upper waters of the Amazon
(mightiest of rivers) lie enormous
forests and 1ungles and mountain
Businesses. filed with rich and
strange vegetable forms, and with
| animals yet stranger-gigantic
anacondas, "carnivorous ants
birds of marvellous plumage and
wonderful vocal powers, and stores
Of untouched minerals and metals.
among which gems and gold and
silver undoubtedly abound. and
inhabited by tribes the names Of
some of which are yet unknown.
At least a quarter Of the CONT"
nent of Australia has never been
explored. Its neighbor, New Gui-
nea, the largest island in the
world, is known only in small part.
although it may be filed with un-
developed riches.
The mighty mass Of the Hilua2a-
vas, the Ioftiest of all mountains.
the roof of the world has not
been penetrated to its center. No
man has Yet approached nearer
than 100 miles from the foot Of Nj
Everest. which lifts its snowy head
five miles and d half above sea
level There are lofty valleys
among the Himalayas, of whose eA-
istence and of whose inhabitants
only traditions are known
Women Rule the Amazons.
Such is the stored valley of the
Amazons, said to be ruled by wom-
en-, and where the men have nc
suffrage at all.
Even the open oceans, now ira
versed in all directions, are full OF
mysteries. Among the strangest
of these is Easter island, in the
| C,,,tb D,oigc . mn ,,,iIar from the