National Geographic : 1897 Nov
THE SUSHITNA RIVER, ALASKA fresh-water lakes skirting the eastern mountain front, which, albeit perhaps partly held in place by morainic dams, undoubt edly owe their preservation to the sluggishness of the rivers flow ing toward the Atlantic-and all these features, as well as some others, indicate that the lifting was greater along the ,eastern margin of the continent, so as to produce a general warping or westward tilting. The history of the evolution of this conti nental terminus has been complex, as shown by the geologic suc cession brought out through Mr Hatcher's observations; there have been several oscillations of greater or less extent; doubt less at times the Patagonian Cordillera formed a great archipelago like the present Tierra del Fuego, and the course of Mayer river may have been a strait like the present Magellan; yet the minor episodes but combined to make up the general history of uplifting and westward tilting. Mr Hatcher has just sailed for Punta Arenas to continue his explorations and surveys. WJM. THE SUSHITNA RIVER, ALASKA By W. A. DICKEY The Sushitna,* though an almost unknown river, is one of the largest in Alaska, carrying more water than Copper river, though the latter is somewhat longer. It has a delta at its mouth, be yond which extensive mud flats reach far out into Cook inlet. The river is divided into many channels and spread out over the mud flats, rendering steamboat navigation difficult. The tides at this point in Cook inlet rise over 30 feet, yet, notwithstanding this great rise, they have but little effect in checking the swift current of the river, so little as to be unnoticeable a few miles up the stream. The tide flats surrounding the mouth are bare at low water for a distance of nearly ten miles, and are very dan gerous to pass. In the treacherous glacial mud a rowboat is liable to sink, and to be held so firmly that the incoming tide, which rises with incredible rapidity, will fail to float it. The mouth of the river is nearly opposite Turnagain arm, a branch of Cook inlet, which is a great breeder of storms. It is therefore exposed to sudden squalls, which may catch the unfor tunate boatman where there is neither landing place nor shelter. * Sushitna means the great muddy river, and is descriptive.