50 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

 

ice, called glaciers, and subsequently partially sub-
merged. On the east the slopes are more gradual,
and are occupied by numerous small lakes.

The System of the Urals is composed of a
moderately elevated range extending from the
Arctic Ocean on the north to the plains of the
Caspian on the south. The elevated island of
Nova Zembla may be considered as forming a
part of its northern prolongation.

The Caucasus Mountains bear peaks exceeding
in elevation those of the Alps. They belong,
however, more properly to the elevations of
Asia.

127. The Great Low Plain of Europe lies be-
tween the predominant and secondary mountain-

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systems, and stretches north-eastwardly from the
Atlantic to the Arctic. It is remarkably level,
and is highest in the middle, where the Valdai
Hills form the principal watershed of Europe.
Westward the plain is continued under the North °
Sea to the British Isles, where a few inconsider-
able elevations occur.

South of the Alps the large plain of the Po
River stretches across the northern part of Italy.

128, Approximate Dimensions of Europe.

Area of continent, 3,700,000 square miles.

Coast line, 19,500 miles.

Greatest breadth from north to south, 2400 miles.

Greatest length from north-east to south-west, 3370
miles.

Culminating point, Mont Blanc, 15,787 feet.

 

Fig, 49, Orographic Chart of Asia, (Light portions, mountains; shaded portions, plains.)
1, Himalaya Mountains; 2, Karakorum; 3, Kuen-lun; 4, Belor; 5, Thian Shan; 6, Altai; 7, Great Kinghan; 8, Yablonoi; 9, Nanting;
10, Peling; 11, Vindhya; 12, Ghauts; 13, Hindoo-Koosh; 14, Elburz; 15, Suliman; 16, Zagros; 17, Taurus; 18, Caucasus; 19, Asiatic Island Chain,

IV. ASIA.

129. Surface Structure.—The Predominant
Mountain-System is in the south.

The Secondary Systems surround the Predomi-
nant System.

The Great Low Plain is on the north and west,

and lies between the mountain-systems of Asia
and the secondary system of the Urals.

Europe and Asia are sometimes considered as geographic-
ally united in one grand division called Eurasia.

130. The mountain-systems of Asia are nearly
all connected in one huge mass which extends in