The country which extends north-east of the river Aar and the lakes of Brienz and Thun to the Lake of Luzern, ie much less moun tainous and broken than the region south of the Lake of Thun; the mean elevation of this region is about 2000 feet. The most elevated tract is north of the Lake of Brlenz, where the Itothhorn attains 7536 feet above the sea, the Tannhorn 6962 feet, and the Hohgant 7352 feet. Among the numerous summit, which are dispersed over the country north of them are Mount Pilatus, south-west of the town of Luzern, 6904 feet above the sea-level; and Mount Napf, which is the north-western point of this region, le only 5277 feet, The surface of this country is a succession of rapid acclivities and declivities, with very small tracts of level ground between them. Nearly the whole of the country is pasture-ground, except the vicinity of the Lake of Luzcru, where large tracts are planted with walnut- and cheetuut trees.
Along the eastern edge of the mountain knot, west of the pass of SL-Gothard, lies the valley of the Upper Reuss, the upper part of which, called the valley of Ursern, is extremely cold, being in its lowest part 9044 feet above the sesslevul ; the lowest part, or the valley of Uri, has a very temperate climate, being little elevated above the surface of the Lake of Luzern, or about 1500 feet above the sea. In the valley of Urseru the winter lasts eight months, and even during the remainder of the year a fire is constantly kept .up. No grain is cultivated, but thero are good pastures. The valley of Uri produces maize and other grain, and also peaches and chestnuts. The highest part of the mountain road of the Se-Gothard, which passes through this valley, is about 7100 feet above the sea.
The country between the valley of the Reuss and the Lake of Luzern on the west, that of Wallenstadt on the north, and the valley of the Upper Rhino on the east and south, is, probably the most broken portion of the mountain region of the Alps in Switzerland. The valleys are extremely narrow, and the declivity of the surrounding mount: due is exceedingly broken, and so steep that large tracts ou the moun tains' sides are bare of trees and bushes, and only a very small surface ie fit for pasture. The upper part of the mountains consists either of sharp narrow ridges or of isolated summits, which generally con stitute largo masses with a very uneven surface. The mountains, though connected with one another by ridges, are not disposed in regular ranges, but scattered over the surface in the greatest disorder, except along the valley of the Inane, where they form a tolerably continuous range. This range, the most northern of the three ranges comprehended under the name of the Rhaetian Alps, and now com monly called the range of the Midi, is couneeted with the mouutains which line the valley of the Aar on the east, and thence runs east north-east over the Knispalt, the Oberalpenetock (10,873 feet), the D6di (11,811 feet), the Kisteuberg (11,068 feet), the Scheibe (10,000 feet), and the Grams Horner (9333 feet), terminating near the Rhine, and ou both sides of the deep and closed valley of the Tamina, in precipitous masses of rock. The glaciers ou this chain are numerous, but with the exceptiou of those which surround the Dbdi and Kisten berg, they are not of great extent. In the country north of this
range there is also a considerable number of single mountains, which rise above the snow-line, as the Windgellen (10,336 feet), the Scheer born (10,809 feet), the Clariden Alps (10,489 feet), the three moun tains of Glarniseh, of which the most elevated, Hoch Glarniseh, rises to 9509 feet, the Kiirpfetock (8954 feet), aud several others. But as these mountains are isolated, the glaciers are of small extent. The mountains are less elevated along the northern edge of this region ; the Mfirtschenstock, which runs along the southern banks of the Lake of Wallenstadt, attains an elevation of only 7750 feet above the sea-level. In proceeding north-west, the mountains decrease in eleva tion, and their declivities are much more gentle. But though the declivities of the mountains are generally accessible to cattle, and supply pasture ground, few places are cultivated. There are however some large tracts which are planted with vines and other fruit-trees. The narrow valleys of this tract have a temperate climate.
The valley of the Upper Mine extends along the Rhine from its eource in Mount Badus to its influx into the Lake of Constanz. It is about 90 miles long. The upper part of the valley runs from south west to north-east, aud is formed by a few basins from 8 to 4 miles long, from 1 to 2 miles wide, and separated from one another by mouutains, which generally come close to the banks of the river. That portion of tho valley which lies above Trous is not cultivated, partly on account of the steep declivity of the mountaius, and partly owing to the rigour of the climate : the winter lasts from eight to nine month.. At Trona agriculture begins, but it is on a very moderate scale, as a part of the basin is covered with swamps. Lower down are the basins of Ilauz and of Reichenau, and then follows the basin of Chur, where the lower portion of the valley begins, which rues nearly north and south. This lower valley is divided into two parts by two mountains, the Fiischerberg on the east, and the Schonberg on . the west, which come close up to the river north of Meyeufeld, near 5' N. lat. The southern district, called the Valley of Meyen feld, descends gradually from about 1775 to 1600 feet. It is about 15 miles long, and varies in width from 2 to 3 miles : the whole of it is under cultivation, and it produces maize, wheat, and other grains; and near the base of the adjacent mouutains there are vines and fruit-trees. The northern portion of the valley, called the Rheinthal, is about 30 miles loug, and from 3 to 6 miles wide ; but only the smaller part of it, which extends along the western banks of the river, belongs to Switzerland : the low country east of the river, which is much wider, belongs to Austria. It is one of the best cultivated tracts in Switzerland, and produces very large quantities of maize and other grains. The vine and fruit-trees are abundant. Great quantities of cider are made and exported. The descent of the valley is from 1600 to 1340 feet above the sea-level.