Most rivers are subject to an occasional, and in some instances to a periodical increase of volume. These seasons of flood are by no means regular, being partly dependent on the melting of the snows, and partly on occasional heavy falls of rain; and hence depend on the climatic variations of the country in which rivers originate.

FAMOUS MOUNTAIN AND OTHER ELEVATIONS OF THE WORLD

Note: The numbers refer back to the Picture Diagrams on the [preceding page].

Ref.
No.		 Name and LocationHeight
in
Feet
NORTH AMERICA
A.*Mount McKinley, Coast Range, Alaska20,300
1. Orizaba, Cordillera, Mexico18,310
2. Mount St. Elias, Coast Range, Alaska18,024
3. Popocatapetl, Cordillera, Mexico17,748
4. Mount Brown, Rocky Mountains, Canada15,990
5. Mount Hooker, Rocky Mountains, Canada15,700
6. Mount Fairweather, Coast Range, Alaska14,750
7.*Mount Rainier, Coast Range, Washington14,408
8.*Mount Whitney, Coast Range, California14,501
9. Mount Elbert, Rocky Mountains, Colorado14,402
10. Pike’s Peak, Rocky Mountains, Colorado14,108
11.*Gannett Peak, Rocky Mountains, Wyoming13,785
12. Fremont’s Peak, Rocky Mountains, Wyoming13,570
13.*Kings Peak, Utah13,498
14.*N. Truchas Peak, Rocky Mountains, New Mexico13,306
15.*E. Peak, White Mountains, Nevada13,145
16.*Granite Peak, Rocky Mountains, Montana12,850
17.*San Francisco Peak, Arizona12,611
18. Mount Assiniboine, Rocky Mts., Canada11,860
19.*Mount Hood, Coast Range, Oregon11,225
20.*El Capitan, Texas9,020
21. Mount Potrillo, Cuba9,000
22. Cibao Mountains, Hayti, West Indies8,970
23.*Harvey Peak, South Dakota7,242
24. Sierra del Cobre, Cuba7,200
25.*Mount Mitchell, Allegheny Mts., N. C.6,711
26.*Mount Guyot, Allegheny Mts., Tennessee6,636
27. Black Mountain, Allegheny Mts., N. C.6,476
28.*Mount Washington, White Mts., N. H.6,293
29. Roan Mountain, Allegheny Mts., N. C.6,038
30. Mount Adams, White Mts., N. H.5,963
31. Mount Jefferson, White Mts., N. H.5,725
32.*Mount Rogers, Blue Ridge, Virginia5,719
33. Mount Monroe, White Mts., N. H.5,390
34.*Banner Peak, Nebraska5,350
35.*Mount Marcy, Adirondacks, New York5,344
36.*Mount Katahdin, Maine5,273
37. Mount McIntyre, Adirondacks, New York5,112
38. Mount Hecla, Iceland5,110
39. Mount Franklin, White Mts., N. H.5,050
40. Skylight, Adirondacks, New York4,920
41. Haystack, Adirondacks, New York4,918
42. Morne Garon, St. Vincent, West Indies4,800
43.*Spruce Knob, West Virginia4,860
44.*Brasstown Bald, Georgia4,768
45.*Cimarron Peak, Oklahoma4,750
46. Mount Lafayette, White Mts., N. H.4,723
47. Mount Morris, Adirondacks, New York4,576
48. Mount Pelée, Martinique4,300
49.*Mount Mansfield, Green Mts., Vermont4,364
50. Otter Peak, Allegheny Mountains, Virginia4,260
51.*Highlands (West Boundary), Kansas4,135
52.*Big Black Mountain, Kentucky4,100
53. Killington, Green Mountains, Vermont4,100
54. Mount Seward, Adirondacks, New York4,000
55. Table Mountain, Allegheny Mts., Virginia4,000
56.*Bald Mountain, Allegheny Mts., Virginia4,000
57. Mount Parnassus, Spitzbergen3,951
58. Round Top, Catskills, New York3,804
59. High Peak, Catskills, New York3,718
60. Mount Misery, St. Christopher, West Indies3,712
61. Sierra de Luquillo, Porto Rico3,678
62. Mount Greylock, Taconic Mts., Mass.3,505
63.*Monadnock, White Mts., New Hampshire3,450
64.*Bowman Summit3,500
65. Backbone Mountain, Maryland3,340
66.*Blue Knob, Allegheny Mts., Pennsylvania3,136
67. Central Peak, Nevis, West Indies3,000
68.*Blue Mountain, Arkansas2,800
69. Kearsarge, White Mts., New Hampshire2,460
70.*Cheaha Mountain, Alabama2,407
71.*Bear Mountain, Connecticut2,355
72.*Rib Hill, Wisconsin1,940
73.*Mesabi Range Minnesota1,920
74. High Point, New Jersey1,809
75. Pringhar, Iowa1,800
76. Taun Sauk Mountain, Ozarks, Missouri1,750
77.*Logan Summit, Ohio1,550
78. West Point, Highlands, New York1,500
79. Storm King, Highlands, New York1,389
80.*Charles Mound, Illinois1,241
81. Carlos Summit, Indiana1,210
82. Mount Tom, Massachusetts1,200
83. Berkshire Hills, Massachusetts1,200
84. Anthony’s Nose, Highlands, New York1,048
85. Mount Holyoke, Massachusetts830
86. Palisades of Hudson, New York and N. J.500
87. Mount Hope, Rhode Island300
88. Bunker Hill, Massachusetts62
* Greatest altitude in the state or territory.
EUROPE
1. Monte Blanc, France15,782
2. Monte Rosa, Italy15,217
3. Weisshorn, Switzerland14,808
4. Matterhorn, or Cervin, Switzerland14,780
5. Finsteraarhorn, Switzerland14,026
6. Breithorn, Switzerland13,685
7. Jungfrau, Switzerland13,671
8. Mönch, Switzerland13,465
9. Pic des Ecrins, France13,462
10. Shreckhorn, Switzerland13,385
11. Mount Paradis, France13,300
12. Otherspitze, Austria12,800
13. Gross Glockner, Austria12,776
14. Aiguille du Midi, France12,743
15. Monte Viso, France12,582
16. The Gallonstock, Switzerland12,481
17. Aiguille de Sassire, Sardinia12,346
18. Wetterhorn, Switzerland12,150
19. Mont Genevre, Sardinia11,785
20. Monto Gavio, Austria11,754
21. Cerro de Mulhacen, Spain11,605
22. Simplon, Switzerland11,541
23. Wisbach Horn, Austria11,518
24. La Mormelata, Austria11,508
25. Mont Cenis, France11,457
26. Mont Nethou, Spain11,427
27. Pic Blanc, France11,190
28. Great St. Bernard, Switzerland11,080
29. Vignemale, France and Spain10,980
30. St. Gothard, Switzerland10,595
31. Mount Calm, France and Spain10,500
32. Pic Blanc, France and Spain10,205
33. Splugen, Switzerland and Austria9,981
34. Peak of Oo, France and Spain9,730
35. Pic du Midi, France9,650
36. Mount Etna, Island of Sicily9,652
37. The Thorstein, Austria9,630
38. Little St. Bernard, France9,591
39. Monte Corno, Italy9,523
40. Canigon, France9,137
41. Monte Rotondo, Island of Corsica9,065
42. Guiona, Greece8,620
43. Lomnitzer Spitze, Austria8,779
44. Rilo Dagh, Bulgaria8,300
45. Mount Parnassus, Greece8,000
46. Mount St. Elias, Greece7,946
47. Mount Ida, Crete7,674
48. Col de Ferret, Switzerland7,641
49. Mount Dinara, Austria-Hungary7,458
50. Monte Cimone, Italy7,083
51. Mount Kleck, Austria-Hungary[75]6,926
52. Pisanino, Italy6,723
53. Pizzo di Casi, Sicily6,509
54. Oraefa Yokul, Iceland6,420
55. Kissovo, Bulgaria6,407
56. Genargentu Peak, Sardinia Island6,290
57. Mount D’or, France6,188
58. Mount Pierus, Bulgaria6,161
59. P. de Cantal, France6,093
60. Sulitelma, Sweden and Norway5,956
61. Monte Amiata, Tuscany5,792
62. Recullet de Toiry, Switzerland5,643
63. La Dole, Switzerland5,509
64. Black Mountain, Island of Cephalonia, Greece5,356
65. Zagora, Bulgaria5,310
66. St. Angelo, Lipari Island, Sicily5,260
67. Schneekoppe, Germany5,253
68. Feugari, Samothraki Island, Turkey5,248
69. Feldberg, Black Forest, Germany4,900
70. Puy de Dome, France4,846
71. Ballon de Alsace, France4,688
72. Monte Alto, Italy4,380
73. Hohenstein, Austria4,284
74. Brokfeld, Norway4,188
75. Mount Delphi, Island of Negropont, Greece4,156
76. Kielburg, Erz Gebirge, Germany4,074
77. Montserrat, Spain4,054
78. Vesuvius, Italy4,260
79. Brocken, Harz Mountains, Germany3,740
80. Ispario, Thasos Island, Greece3,428
81. Great Beerberg, Thuringerwald, Germany3,265
82. Summit, Norway3,200
83. Great Feldsberg, Germany2,886
84. Stromboli, Lipari Island, Sicily3,090
85. Mount Delphi, Skopela Island, Greece2,295
86. Tonnere, France2,225
87. Mount St. Oreste, Italy2,140
88. Peak, Island of Corfu, Greece1,900
89. Kastri, Island of Thasos, Greece1,565
90. Gibraltar, Spain1,437
91. Valdai Hills, Russia1,200
92. North Cape, Island of Mageroe, Norway1,161
93. Himmelsberg, Plateau of Denmark, Denmark928
94. Montmartre, Paris, France400
95. Observatory, Paris, France240
96. Heligoland Island, North Sea, Germany230
BRITISH ISLES
1. Greenwich Observatory, Kent, England214
2. Holyhead, Island of Anglesea, Wales709
3. Carraton, Cornwall, England1,208
4. Penmaen Maur, Wales1,540
5. Axedge, Derby, England1,750
6. Pendlehill, Lancashire, England1,803
7. Holmernoss, Derby, England1,859
8. Ingleborough, Yorkshire, England2,361
9. Whernside, Yorkshire, England2,384
10. Plinlimmon, Cardiganshire, Wales2,463
11. Cradle Mountain, Brecknockshire, Wales2,545
12. Coniston Fell, Westmoreland, England2,577
13. Caermarthen Vau, Caermarthenshire, Wales2,596
14. Cheviot, Northumberland, England2,684
15. Grassmere Fell, Cumberland, England2,756
16. Cross Fell, Cumberland, England2,909
17. Bow Fell, Cumberland, England2,911
18. Cader Idris, Merionethshire, Wales2,914
19. Arran Mowdwy, Merionethshire, Wales2,955
20. Skiddaw, Cumberland, England3,022
21. Helvellyn, Cumberland, England3,313
22. Carnedd Llewellyn, Caernarvon, Wales3,471
23. Snowdon, Caernarvon, Wales3,571
24. Cairn Gorm, Invernesshire, Scotland4,095
25. Ben Macdui, Aberdeenshire, Scotland4,305
26. Ben Nevis, Inverness, Scotland4,368
27. Cairntoul, Aberdeenshire, Scotland4,245
28. Ben Lawers, Perthshire, Scotland3,945
29. Ben More, Perthshire, Scotland2,944
30. Ben Gloe, Perthshire, Scotland3,690
31. Ben Cruachan, Argyleshire, Scotland3,669
32. Ben Deirg, Perthshire, Scotland3,550
33. Schehallien, Perthshire, Scotland3,514
34. Macgillicuddy Reeks, Kerry, Ireland3,404
35. Scarscoch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland3,402
36. Ben Gurdy, Perthshire, Scotland3,364
37. Ben More, Sutherlandshire, Scotland3,231
38. Ben Lomond, Stirlingshire, Scotland3,180
39. Ben Voirlich, Perthshire, Scotland3,055
40. Lunaquilla, Wicklow, Ireland3,039
41. Galtee Mountains, Tipperary, Ireland3,008
42. Slatterwind, Stromoe, Faroe Islands2,998
43. Black Larg, Ayrshire, Scotland2,890
44. Goat Fell, Island of Arran, Scotland2,865
45. Ben Ledi, Perthshire, Scotland2,863
46. The Cobbler, Argyleshire, Scotland2,863
47. Slievedonard, Ulster, Ireland2,796
48. Broad Law, Peeblesshire, Scotland2,741
49. Ben Wyvis, Rosshire, Scotland2,720
50. Hart Fell, Dunfriesshire, Scotland2,635
51. Mount Battock, Kincardineshire, Scotland2,600
52. Lowther Hill, Lanarkshire, Scotland2,522
53. Kippure, Leinster, Ireland2,473
54. Paps of Jura, Argyleshire, Scotland2,470
55. Slievenaman, Tipperary, Ireland2,362
56. The Paps, Kerry, Ireland2,280
57. Snaefell, Isle of Man, Great Britain2,004
58. Campsie Hills, Stirlingshire, Scotland1,850
59. Achil Head, Mayo, Ireland1,800
60. Pentland Hills, Scotland1,700
61. Peak, Hoy Island, Orkney Group1,569
62. Eildon Hills, Roxburgshire, Scotland1,364
63. Ailsa Craig, Firth of Clyde, Scotland1,139
64. Dunnose, Isle of Wight, England792
65. Salisbury Craigs, Mid Lothian, Scotland550
66. Hill of Howth, Dublin, Ireland549
67. Edinburg Castle, Mid Lothian, Scotland434
68. Bass Rock, Firth of Forth, Scotland400
69. St. Paul’s, London, England404
ASIA AND PACIFIC ISLANDS
A. Mount Everest, India-China29,002
1. Godwin-Austin, India-China28,278
2. Dapsang, Tibet28,273
3. Kanchanjanga, India-China28,156
4. Nanga-Parbat, India26,629
5. Dhawalaghiri, India26,286
6. Nanda-Devi, India25,661
7. Bride Peak, India25,100
8. Chumolhari, India23,933
9. Kaufmann, Turkestan23,000
10. Cantas, India-China22,500
11. St. Patrick, India-China22,385
12. St. George, India-China22,240
13. Gemini, India-China21,600
14. Bunderpooch, India-China21,155
15. Pyramid, India-China20,966
16. Peak, Hindu Kush, Afghanistan20,230
17. Bunderpooch 2d, India20,122
18. Mount Elburz, Russian Empire18,526
19. Mount Ararat, Asia Minor17,160
20. Mount Kasbeck, Russian Empire16,592
21. Kliontsheoskoi, Kamtschatka16,512
22. Kassoumba, Sumatra, Malaysia15,000
23. Australian Alps, Australia15,000
24. Demavend, Persia18,500
25. Mouna Kea, Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands13,953
26. Mount Ophir, Sumatra, Malaysia13,842
27. Mouna Loa, Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands13,600
28. Arjish Dagh, Asia Minor13,100
29. Sevellan, Persia13,000
30. Gunong Dempu, Sumatra, Malaysia12,465
A. Mount Erebus, Victoria Land, Antarctic Continent12,400
31. Peak, Formosa, Japan12,000
B. Mount Terror, Victoria Land, Antarctic Continent11,500
32. Koriatskaia, Kamtschatka11,215
33. Mount Lebanon, Syria11,050
34. Mount Bielucha, Russian Empire11,063
35. Peak, Otaheite, Polynesia10,895
36. Italitskui, Russian Empire10,735
37. Kriontskaia, Kamtschatka10,625
38. Shivelutsh, Kamtschatka10,591
39. Haleakala, Maui, Hawaiian Islands10,200
40. Murtchurti Bet, India10,070
41. Mount Olympus, Asia Minor9,100
42. Mount Egmont, New Zealand8,839
43. Arvatskaa, Kamtschatka8,760
44. Dodabetta, India8,760
45. Mount St. Catherine, Arabia8,593
46. Mount Sinai, Arabia8,300
47. Pedro-talla-galla, Ceylon[76]8,326
48. Melin, China8,200
49. Kirrigal Pota, Ceylon7,810
50. Totta Rella, Ceylon7,720
51. Peak of Yeddo, Japan7,680
52. Adams’ Peak, Ceylon7,420
53. Mount Serbal, Arabia6,760
54. Quelpaert, Quelpaert Island6,400
55. Sea View Hill, Australia6,300
56. Taddiamdamala, India6,055
57. Subramain, India5,560
58. Jebel, Akral, Arabia5,318
59. Abu, India5,100
60. Mount Ida, Asia Minor4,960
61. Peak of Teneriffe, Tasmania4,500
62. Mount Williams, Australia4,500
63. Corean Mountains, Japan4,480
64. Baskirian Urals, Russian Empire4,400
65. Ben Lomond, Tasmania4,200
66. Mount Wellington, Tasmania3,795
67. Forest Hill Peak, Australia3,776
68. Quamby’s Bluff, Tasmania3,500
69. Karnalighur, India3,203
70. Mount York, Australia3,192
71. Mount Exmouth, Australia3,000
72. Mount Cole, Australia3,000
73. Mount Field, Tasmania3,000
74. Peak, St. Paul’s Island, Indian Ocean2,760
75. Sugar Loaf, Peak, Australia2,527
76. St. Paul’s Dome, Tasmania2,500
77. Mount Carmel, Palestine, Syria2,250
78. Mount Tabor, Palestine, Syria2,053
79. Bathurst Heights, Australia1,970
AFRICA
1. Kilimanjaro, East Africa19,780
2. Kibo Peak, German East Africa19,320
3. Mount Kenia, British Africa17,200
4. Mount Stanley, Central Africa16,800
5. Abba Yared, Abyssinia15,200
6. Bushad, Abyssinia, Central Africa14,364
7. Mongo-ma-Lobah, Central Africa13,760
8. Peak of Teneriffe, Canary Islands12,000
9. Mount Miltsen, North Africa11,400
10. Clarence Peak, Fernando Po Island, Gulf of Guinea10,655
11. Pic Nieges, Bourbon Island, Indian Ocean10,355
12. Spitz-Kop, South Africa10,240
13. Mount Alantika, Central Africa9,000
14. Tarami, Abyssinia8,643
15. Peak, Tristan de’Acunha Island, Atlantic Ocean8,236
16. Peak of Pico, Azores, Atlantic Ocean7,013
17. Volcano Fogo, Cape de Verd Islands, Atlantic Ocean7,884
18. El Cumbre, Canary Islands, Atlantic Ocean6,648
19. Jebel Akhal, East Africa6,500
20. Pico Ruivo, Madeira Island, Atlantic Ocean6,056
21. Mount Dogen, Central Africa5,000
22. Table Mountain, South Africa3,582
23. Devil’s Peak, South Africa3,315
24. Green Mountain, Ascension Island, Atlantic Ocean2,868
25. Mount Tekut, North Africa2,800
26. Diana’s Peak, St. Helena, Atlantic Ocean2,692
27. Lion’s Head, South Africa2,166
28. Cape, Cape Colony, South Africa1,000
29. Pyramid of Cheops, Egypt479
30. Pyramid of Chephren, Egypt456
SOUTH AMERICA
1. Aconcagua, Chile23,080
2. Sorata or Illampu, Bolivia23,000
3. Mercedario, Argentina22,312
4. Illimani, Bolivia22,200
5. Tupungato, Chile21,550
6. Condor, Argentina21,128
7. Famatina, Argentina20,680
8. Salcantay, Peru20,540
9. Chimborazo, Ecuador20,475
10. Antisana, Ecuador19,184
11. Santa Morta, Colombia19,030
12. Tacora, Bolivia19,000
13. Cotopaxi, Ecuador18,880
14. Arequipa, Peru18,370
15. Tolima, Colombia18,069
16. Maispo, Chile17,670
17. Peak of Cuzco, Peru17,525
18. Sangai, Ecuador17,460
19. Ruiz, Colombia17,388
20. Tunguraqua, Ecuador16,690
21. Cotocachi, Ecuador16,300
22. Cerro de Potosi, Bolivia16,037
23. Pichincha, Ecuador15,918
24. Roraima, Venezuela8,740
25. Silla de Caracas, Venezuela8,632
26. Duida, Venezuela8,467
27. Corcorada, Argentina7,510
28. Minchinmadiva, Argentina7,046
29. Mount Sarmiento, Tierra del Fuego7,000
30. Mount Darwin, Tierra del Fuego6,800
31. Guadarrama, Colombia6,400
32. Itambe, Brazil5,960
33. Piedade, Brazil5,820
34. Itacolumi, Brazil5,750
35. Morro dos Canudos, Brazil4,476
36. Macarapan, Guayana3,500
37. Cape Horn, Argentina1,870
FRESHWATER AND
SALT LAKES

Lakes are of different kinds. Some are mere tanks which receive the first outpourings of springs, others consist of basins or reservoirs which occur in the line of a river’s course; some consist of basins or cavities, into which rivers flow, but which, on account of their depression or their mountainous cincture have no outlets; lakes are also formed in the craters of extinct volcanoes; and some lakes are periodic, or subject to have their basins alternately empty and full of water.

Mountain Lakes, which are valleys or chasms filled by streams, are long and narrow, rarely of extensive area, but often of great depth. Examples of this class are found in Lakes Champlain and George, among the Appalachian Mountains; Lakes Constance and Geneva, on the northern side of the Alps; and Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, on the south side; all of which are renowned for the loveliness of their shores, or the grandeur of the surrounding mountain scenery.

Lake Maggiore, which is hardly three miles wide, is, according to Italian engineers, 2,623 feet deep—more than double the depth of Lake Superior—its basin reaching 1,936 feet below the sea level.

The forms of mountain lakes are very irregular, for the water often covers several contiguous and connected valleys. This is the case in Lake Como, which has two long arms; and Lakes Lucerne and Lugano, each of which fills four distinct valleys, meeting one another nearly at right angles.