Abstract
WHEN it had been decided to connect Belem, the capital of the State of Pará, by means of a subfluvial cable with Manaos, the capital of the State of Amazonas, a preliminary journey became necessary, during which landing-places at the various intermediate stations had to be selected, some reaches of the river explored, as no trustworthy charts exist, and various other details ascertained in order to facilitate the laying of the cable. This preliminary survey took place in October of last year during the hottest season, when the river was at its lowest; while the cable was laid during January and February of this year, when the rainy season had commenced and the river was rising. It is extremely difficult to realise the true proportions of this river, but the subjoined comparative table, in which the dimensions of the principal rivers of the various continents are contrasted with those of the Amazon, will help to show the importance of this great system of natural waterways.
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Cable Laying on the Amazon River1. Nature 54, 162–164 (1896). https://doi.org/10.1038/054162c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/054162c0