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THE ADRIATIC AND THE MEDITERRANEAN. 25
mean depth rivers like the Mississippi and the Amazons. Farther south
the submarine declivity, which continues on one side that of the Apennines, on the other that of the Alps of Dalmatia, becomes comparatively
greater, and the sounding-lead descends to about 110 and even 170 fathoms below the surface. At this spot the sea forms a sort of hollow,
bounded on the south by a submarine isthmus uniting the peninsula of
Manfredonia with the isolated rock of Pelagosa, and with the islands of
the Dalmatian coast, Lagosta, Curzola, and Lesina. Beyond this isthmus, and extending as far as the Straits of Otranto, is another and much
deeper hollow, toward the middle of which the soundings indicate a depth
of nearly 500 fathoms ; and on the east rise the precipices of Montenegro,
the roots of which descend very rapidly beneath the waters. Thus the
soundings of the Adriatic confirm the observations, made long ago by
Dampier and many other navigators, that the sea is generally deep at the
base of abruptly sloping mountains, and, on the other hand, that there is
but a slight depth of water near low coasts.
Tltes tterticaZ- ^ccde* ■up
increased, a* huru£recC':fbZc££
Fig. 3.—Profile of the Bed of the Adriatic.
As to the Mediterranean properly so called, it is almost unknown, except in those parts which have been explored for the laying of telegraphic
cables; however, on comparing with one another all the soundings, and
the various tracks followed by those who have laid the wires, we can at
least form a general notion of its submarine surface. If the waters of the
Mediterranean were suddenly lowered about 110 fathoms, it would be divided into three distinct sheets of water : Italy would be joined to Sicily,
Sicily would be united by an isthmus to Africa, the Dardanelles and the
Bosporus would be closed, but the outlet of Gibraltar would remain in
free communication with the Atlantic Ocean. If the level was lowered
by about 550 fathoms, the iEgean, the Euxine, and the Adriatic would
wholly disappear, or only leave in their beds unimportant pools ; the remainder of the Mediterranean would be divided into Several seas like the
Caspian, either isolated or communicating with ea|[i other by narrow
channels, and the terminal promontory of Europe would be joined by the
isthmus of Gibraltar to the mountains of Africa. A depression of about
1100 fathoms would leave nothing but three inland lakes; to the west a
| Title | The ocean, atmosphere, and life |
| Creator | Reclus, Elisée |
| Publisher | Harper |
| Place of Publication | New York |
| Date | 1873 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000030 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | THE ADRIATIC AND THE MEDITERRANEAN. 25 mean depth rivers like the Mississippi and the Amazons. Farther south the submarine declivity, which continues on one side that of the Apennines, on the other that of the Alps of Dalmatia, becomes comparatively greater, and the sounding-lead descends to about 110 and even 170 fathoms below the surface. At this spot the sea forms a sort of hollow, bounded on the south by a submarine isthmus uniting the peninsula of Manfredonia with the isolated rock of Pelagosa, and with the islands of the Dalmatian coast, Lagosta, Curzola, and Lesina. Beyond this isthmus, and extending as far as the Straits of Otranto, is another and much deeper hollow, toward the middle of which the soundings indicate a depth of nearly 500 fathoms ; and on the east rise the precipices of Montenegro, the roots of which descend very rapidly beneath the waters. Thus the soundings of the Adriatic confirm the observations, made long ago by Dampier and many other navigators, that the sea is generally deep at the base of abruptly sloping mountains, and, on the other hand, that there is but a slight depth of water near low coasts. Tltes tterticaZ- ^ccde* ■up increased, a* huru£recC':fbZc££ Fig. 3.—Profile of the Bed of the Adriatic. As to the Mediterranean properly so called, it is almost unknown, except in those parts which have been explored for the laying of telegraphic cables; however, on comparing with one another all the soundings, and the various tracks followed by those who have laid the wires, we can at least form a general notion of its submarine surface. If the waters of the Mediterranean were suddenly lowered about 110 fathoms, it would be divided into three distinct sheets of water : Italy would be joined to Sicily, Sicily would be united by an isthmus to Africa, the Dardanelles and the Bosporus would be closed, but the outlet of Gibraltar would remain in free communication with the Atlantic Ocean. If the level was lowered by about 550 fathoms, the iEgean, the Euxine, and the Adriatic would wholly disappear, or only leave in their beds unimportant pools ; the remainder of the Mediterranean would be divided into Several seas like the Caspian, either isolated or communicating with ea|[i other by narrow channels, and the terminal promontory of Europe would be joined by the isthmus of Gibraltar to the mountains of Africa. A depression of about 1100 fathoms would leave nothing but three inland lakes; to the west a |
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