Abstract
I AM a little surprised to find, by the recent letters in your paper, that Science makes so wide a mouth over this phenomenon, though its exceptional character, and the general correctness of Colonel Greenwood's theory, must readily be recognised. My surprise is occasioned by the fact that Norway, which is now visited by thousands of educated English tourists every year, can supply, not one, but several, I had almost written many, apparent examples of this double outflow. I have not myself passed the watershed at the Lesjeskaagen Lake, though I was close to it in August last, and would have examined it if I had known its importance; but I know enough of the locality to think that Colonel Greenwood is probably right in his explanation of it. But there is another, which I have passed, and which is situated on perhaps the most frequented route in Norway, viz. that from Lærdalsören over the Fille Fjeld, to which I hardly think the same explanation would apply. Between Nystuen and Skogstad is a chain of lakes crossing the watershed, the highest of which (not the one marked on the Vei-cart over Norge, I think) sends its waters to the west, past Nystuen to the Sogne Fjord, at Lærdalsören, and on the east by the Lille Mjösen, and Aadalen to the Tyrifjord, and so past Drammen to the Christiania Fjord. This lake is a small one, and the double outflow is close to the high road. I cannot imagine any commercial object for an artificial cut, and it must be well known to hundreds who annually pass it. The Vei-cart shows several other instances, I know not how authentic, though I have always found it fairly accurate, erring rather by omission than commission. But in lat. 62° N., long. 24° 40′ E. or thereabouts, is a very remarkable watershed, having a complication of outfalls; the Bredals-Vand sending one to the N.W. to the Geiranger Fjord, and a second to the Vaage-Vand and Gudbrandsdalen; which is also joined by a draft from a lake to the S.W., which likewise sends a feeder to the Opstryen Vand, and so W.S.W. to the Nord Fjord. This I have not myself seen, but I was at Merok on the Geiranger for some days last August, and was assured by my landlord that the map was correct in this particular. As the Norwegian peasantry are well-educated, intelligent, and truthful, and this route forms their regular short cut to Christiania, I cannot doubt but that it is the fact. However, I have engaged to go over the track this summer with Captain Dahl, the well-known jolly commander of the Erknö, and I will take care to ascertain the truth and report the result. If, moreover, there are any geological or geographical points to be attended to, and Colonel Greenwood will kindly furnish me with instructions, I shall be happy to attend to them.
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THELWALL, W. Lakes with two Outfalls. Nature 9, 485 (1874). https://doi.org/10.1038/009485b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/009485b0
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