From the high ground which forms the eastern border of the table-land of Jemtland, the country descends in a regain- slope towards the sea. Rivers cross it in narrow valleys considerably below the general level, in which they frequently expand in long narrow lakes, and usually form rapids and cataracts. In this tract the valleys alone can he cultivated; but the higher grounds contain good pasture and support cattle of various kinds. The remainder of the region, extending about 40 miles east and west, and reaching to the shore of the Gulf of Bothnia, is almost entirely occupied with isolated hills or short ranges ; they have generally steep declivities, and some of them rise nearly /000 feet above the sea. Between them are valleys or level grounds of small extent, the lowest parts being occupied by a river, or by a small lake, on the banks of which there are meadows alternating with woods. The slopes of the hills, and generally their summits also, are clothed with trees. Barley is extensively culti vated. Potatoes and peas are grown to some extent. The number of domestic animals, black cattle and sheep, is great, and that of goats considerable, but horses and hogs are few in number. A considerable quantity of timber is exported.
3. Tho Southern part of the mountain region lies south of 62' N. lat. That part of this region which may properly be called moun tainous, is not extensive. It forms an appendage of the Norrska Fieren. From Mount Sylfiellen eastward run three ridges inclosing the upper valleys of the rivers Ljungan and Ljusnan, and towards the south those which divide the Oster- and Weeter-Dal, and the latter from the Klar, while the most western ridge separates the Klar from the Glommeu. The ridge which separates the valley of the Wester Dal from that of the Klar, preserves a considerable elevation south of Cl' N. lat., running south-south-east until it has passed 00' N. Lat., when it turns to the south. Near the mountain region Its general elevation is more than 1500 feet above the sea; but south of CO' 30' N. lat. it is hardly more than 1000 feet. It sinks still lower south of that line, where, running from north to south, it forms the watershed between the river' that fall into Lake Wener on the west, and those running to Lake Millar to the east, and farther south separates the basins of the lakes Wener and Wetter. In these parts it is called the Tifreden range, and it attains only a height of from 500 to 700 feet above the sea-level, and from 300 to 400 feet above its base. It seldom exceeds 3 or 4 miles in width.
The country to the east of this ridge and of tho mountain system of Mount Sylftellen, resembles In its great features the countries which lie farther north. The higher tract, whose general level Is more than 800 feet above the sea, etretches from the mountains to the western extremity of Lake Siljan, a distance of about 40 mike. North of that lake It extends much farther to the east, and hero It occupies from west to east about 80 miles, leaving between it and the sea a space not quite 40 miles wide., The surface is less broken than that of the regions farther north, consisting chiefly of long and gentle swells, the summits of which form levels of considerable extent. A few hills are dispersed over these summits, but their sides are not steep, and they do not rise more than 300 or 400 feet above their base. These hills are numerous in the vicinity of the moun tains, especially on the west of Lake Siljan, but they become rarer in the country farther east. Agriculture is limited to a few valleys of
moderate extent, and to the low grounds surrounding the lakes, where rye, barley, and especially oats, are cultivated, and some vege tables are grown. Cattle, sheep, and goats aro reared. Nearly the whole tract is covered with forests, the produce of which finds a ready sale in the adjacent Region of the Mines.
Lake Siljan, which is situated near the southern border of this tract, is 25 miles long, 6 miles wide, and 555 feet above the sea-level. On the west and south it is surrounded by low hills, alternating with level plains. On the north and east the hills are much higher, but the declivities are usually gentle, and inclose narrow fertile valleys. In the district surrounding this beautiful lake agriculture is conducted on a larger scale than in the country to the east and north of it.
The eastern portion of this region, extending from the Gulf of Bothnia about 40 miles inland, ie an inclined plane, which gradually rises from the sea to an elevation of 800 feet. The surface is Inter spersed with numerous hills of moderate elevation and with lakes. A plain of considerable width extends along the shores from GI' 40' N. lat. to the mouth of the Dal 40') : this is the most northern part of Sweden in which wheat is grown. Barley and potatoes are most extensively cultivated ; rye, oats, and peas are also grown. Sheep and cattle are very numerous.
4. South of the region just described extends the Region of the Mines. It occupies the whole breadth of Sweden, from Norway to the Gulf of Bothnia, between Lake Siljan and Soderhamn on the north, and Lake Wener (09° N. lat.) on the south. The Tifveden ridge crosses it nearly in the middle at an elevation of about 1000 feet above the sea. West of the range the country slopes towards the south, and terminates on the banks of Lake Wener. Two-thirds of this slope are less than 300 feet above the sea. The country lying east of the Tifveden ridge slopes to the south in the southern and to the east in the northern districts. Its elevation above the sea is never leas than 300 feet, except on the level plain along the Gulf of Bothnia from Soderhamn to the mouth of the Dal West of the great southern bend of the Dal is a tract of considerable extent, which rises from 800 to 1000 feet above the sea. The surface of this region is exceedingly uneven, and it is covered with a succession of low unconnected hills, the slopes of which are very gentle, and gene rally covered with wood. The low grounds between the hills are generally occupied by countless lakes and marshes. In the country west of the Tifveden ridge the lakes lie from north to south. The largest among them are Legen, Lelanf, Glafs, Wermelen, Mellau, and Ofre, each of which is above 20 miles long, but they seldom exceed two miles in width. The lakes to tho east of the Tifvedeu ridge have a more irregular form, and are not so large. South of the Dal are the lakes Wesman, Barken, and Analinningen, and north of it Bunn and Siljan. Though the soil of this region consists chiefly of gravel and sand with a mixture of clay, nearly every spot that is of any value (there are not many such) is carefully cultivated for the supply of the miners; the greatest number and the richest of the iron-mines of Sweden being situated within this region. Oats, rye, some barley and wheat are the chief crops. Potatoes and peas are grown. In a few places there aro good pastures ; and cattle, sheep, horses, and hogs are numerous in the southern districts.