JUNGFRAU, or the Virgin, is a stupendous mountain of Switzerland, in the northem chain of the Alps, which, by the trigonometrical measurements of 1\1. 'Francs, is found to be elevated 12,872 feet ahot e the level of the sea. This mountain, however, is only the seventh in respect to altitude among the Alpine ranges, being exceeded by Mont Blanc, Mont Rote•, Ortelen, Cervin, Finster-Aar horn, and the Col de Laniere. It rises from the valley of Lauterbrunnen, which extends about five leagues in length, by about only a quarter of a league in breadth, in the can ton of Berne, and receives a number of torrents from the surrounding rocks, whence its name is supposed to be de rived. But this valley owes its chief celebrity to the cas cade of Staubach, precipitated from heights of 800 feet, opposite to which is the Jungfrau, rearing its summit 10,422 feet abut e the village of Lauterbrunnnen. It is only from certain positions, however, that the appearance of this enormous mass can be properly contemplated ; when immense glaciers are seen branching out into the yanks and the got ges of the mountains, hut principally on the side of the Valais, where that of Aletsch descends, along a line of eight or nine leagues, nearly reaching the Rhone. The Jungfrau is surrounded on all sides by fright ful rocks and precipices ; and its summit, which is com pletely hemispherical, is covered with perpetual snow. Almost in its centre terminate the crests of the three mountains of the Valais, of Lanterbrunnen, and Grindel wald. As the base of the Jungfrau exhibits calcareous strata, it is conjectured that they are continued to the summit. The debris washed down from the heights are calcareops, among which pet•ifactions are sometimes dis covered. The calcareous formation rests on the primitive rock, and the disposition of the strata may be seen in a cleft, where, although the highest surface of the primitive rock, and the calcareous beds resting upon it, are inclined to the north, the primitive strata are perfectly vertical, or slightly inclined to the south ; but this can be recognized only in the most obvious sections. Several caverns pene
trate the base, of which that called Korbaline is the most remarkable. The view of the Cime, or top, of the Jung frau is particularly grand, when the traveller approaches it, in ascending the valley of Lauterbrunnen. There is per haps no mountain in the world that presents so magnificent an outline.
Some of the most lofty Alpine mountains have been ascended by enterprising travellers ; but the difficulties by which the Jungfrau'was every where environed, were long supposed to render it inaccessible. Two brothers named Meyer, however, lately resolved on the attempt ; and hav ing made the necessary preparations, in procuring guides, attendants, a ladder and ropes, left Aarau on the 29th of July, 1811, and passed the valley of Lxtschen. After a long ascent, they spent the first night on the place where the glacier of Lxtschen joins that of Aletsch. Here, amidst the most barren rocks, some insects of the genus podura were seen under the stones upon the snow. The following day they made various Alpine discoveries in the union and position of different glaciers, but the reflection of the snow was such as rendered it necessary to hang rt black veil before their eyes. Their attendants becoming alarmed at the difficulties of the ascent, they were dis missed, and the adventurers passed a second night on the ice. Next morning they resumed their exertions, and af ter a painful journey, guided by the direction of a wreath of snow, they at length gained the summit. The heavens now appeared of a deep azure, pure and cloudless ; and none of those painful sensations described by Saussute and others, were felt by the Messrs. Meyer. They elevated a black flag on the summit, and descended the mountain in safety. (c)