The Lepontine Alps form the continuation of the main chain on the south side of the great valley or depression stretching from Martigny in the Valais to Coire in the Grisons, the western portion of which• forms the basin of the Rhone, the eastern that of the Vor derrhein. From this chain branch the northern and eastern extensions of the Swiss Alps be yond the Bernese range, the eastern boundary of which is fixed at the defile of the Devil's Bridge, near Andermatt, crossed by the Reuss. The Lepontine range extends to the Spliigen pass. The line of watershed is generally parallel to the valley of the Vorderrhein; but here, as already noticed, some of the principal ranges run transversely to it, terminating in the great valleys in which lie the lakes Maggiore, Como, etc., fed by numerous tributaries from this and the following division of the Alps. This divi sion forms the great water-parting of the whole system. Within a radius of a few miles from the St. Gothard Pass rise the Rhone, the Aar, the Reuss, the Vorderrhein, the Ticino, the Toccia and the Maggia. The principal pass is the St. Gothard (6,936 feet), over which pass is a carriage road from Bellinzona to Through this mountain mass a railway tunnel more than nine miles long was opened in The Gries Pass (8,050 feet) conducts from Obergestelen to Formazza. The Bernardin Pass (6,769 feet), constructed by the Swiss government, leads from Coire to Bellinzona. The road from Coire to the Splfigen leads, by way of the Splfigen Pass (6,945 feet), to Lake Como. This route commands the finest views of Swiss scenery in the Grisons. Previous to the construction of the present road by the Austrian government in 1823 it was difficult and dangerous. Marshal MacDonald, who crossed it in 1800, lost a large number of men by avalanches at a gorge in the passage of the Cardinello, which the new road avoids. The carriage road over the Furka Pass from Ober gestelen to Andermatt, completed in 1867, af fords a fine view of the Schreckhorn and Fin steraarhorn. The peaks here are of less eleva tion. The highest, Monte Leone, is 11,696 feet ; the Piz Valrhein is 11,148 feet, and several are above 10,000. Of the northern ranges Tikli is 11,887; Bifertenstock, 11,237; Scheerhorn, 11,132, and there are many above 10,000.
The Rhmtian Alps extend from the Splfigen to Dreiherrnspitz on the borders of Salzburg and Tyrol. The Engadine, or valley of the Inn, divides them into two portions. The chain is also broken by the valley of the Adige. To the south, separated by the valley of the Adda, are the Lombard Alps, while the more northerly continuations embrace the Tyrolese and Bavarian Alps. In the main range are the Piz Bernina, 13,294 feet; Piz Roseg, 12,936; Ortelerspitze, 12,814; in the Lombard Alps, Monte Adamello, 11,832; Presanella, 11,688; and Care Alto, 11,352. The other ranges are inferior in height. Good roads now become more numerous. The Malloya Pass (5,942 feet) leads from Chiavenna, by the valley of the Inn, to Innsbruck, and communicates with the road over the Julier Pass (7,503 feet) to Coire. The Pass of Glurns (4,400 feet), from the valley of the Inn to the Adige, is the lowest pass over the main chain. It joins the road to Milan by the Valtelline, the highest part of which is 9,174 feet. This is a carriage road constructed by the Austrian government for communication with their Lombard dominions.
The Brenner Pass (4,588 feet) leads from ‘erona to Innsbruck. The Brenner is crossed by a railway. The northern ranges are inter sected by the Septima, Julier, Albula and other passes. The Adda, Oglio, Adige, Hinterrhein, Inn and other rivers, rise in this part of the chain.
Noric Alps.— The main chain of the Alps here divides into different sections as already mentioned. The northern part of the chain ex tending to Vienna was anciently called the Noric Alps, while the southern continuation. Were known as the Carnian and Julian Alps, the names Venetian, Dalmatian, and Pannonic Alps being also in use. The culminating peak of the northern range is the Gross Glockner, 12,405 feet. Farther east the heights are of much less elevation. In Carinthia and Styria two parallel branches called the Styrian Alps enclose the up per valley of the Mur. In this group is the Hafnereck, 10,044 feet. In south Tyrol and Venetia several peaks rise above 10,000 feet. The Carnic Alps run from the frontiers of Tyrol and Venetia to the frontier of Carinthia. They are separated from the northern range by the Gailthal. The height of the southeastern continuations of the Alps rapidly diminishes, and they lose themselves in ranges having noth ing in common with the great mountain masses which distinguish the centre of the system. Mount Terglou, near the northwestern extrem ity of the Julian Alps, has a height of 9,371 feet. The name Dinaric Alps is given to a continuation from Mount Klek through Croatia and along the borders of Dalmatia and Her zegovina.
There are various points of vantage from which extensive views of Alpine scenery are commanded at the expense of a moderate amount of climbing. The Rigi, which can now be ascended by railway, is one of these. There are hotels at the top, 5,905 feet above the level of the sea, and 4,468 above the Lake of Lucerne. A favorite Rigi spectacle is that of the sun rise over the Bernese Alps. The Faulhorn (8,799 feet), southeast of Lake Brienz, com mands a near view of the same range. The Becca di Nona (8,415 feet), south of Aosta, gives, according to some authorities, the finest panoramic view to be obtained from any sum mit of the Alps. From the Gorner Grat (to which there is now a railway from Zermatt), and various points in the valley of Chamonix, particularly the Montanvert, with its outlook upon the Mer de Glace, views of various inter est are obtained. The most accessible Alpine glaciers are those of Aletsch, Chamonix and Zermatt.
In the lower valleys the mean temperature ranges from 50° to 60°. Half-way up the Alps it averages about 32° — a height which, in the snowy regions, where snow always lies, the average does not attain. The exhila rating and invigorating nature of the climate in the upper regions of the Alps during sum mer has been acknowledged by all who have visited these romantic scenes. The freshness of the breeze as it comes from the snowy peaks, tempered by the rays of a southern sun, en ables the traveler, without weariness, to per form distances on foot that at home he would have shrunk from attempting. Notwithstand ing, however, the invigorating nature of the climate, the inhabitants of the higher valleys are often afflicted with goitre and cretinism.