The principal range of the .Rhatian Alps branches off to the east of the mountain-pass of St,-Gothard, south of Mount Bad us, and runs eastward. A continuous range of mountains, of which however no enmmit seems to rise above the snow-line, extends 20 miles, to Piz Valrhin, which attains an elevation of 10,960 feet, and is surrounded by extensive glaciers, which are the source of the Hinter-Rhein, the largest of the upper branches of the Rhine. Not far from it to the east is the 3Iuschelhorn (10,234 feet); and between the roads leading over the St. Bernhardin and the Spliigen is the Tambohorn (10,436 feet). The range continues eastward to the source of the Inn, where it turns to the north of north-east, in which direction it rune to the eastern frontier of Switzerland, and enters the Tyrol. This last portion of the range is very high, and the snow along the crest is almost continuous. Some of the glaciers are extensive, especially as we approach the eastern boundary of Switzerland : the glacier which surrounds Meant Fermund, or the Iron Mountain, is calculated to cover nearly 100 square miles. From this immense field of ice and snow that range of mountains branches off which is called Rhaticon, and which runs north-west by west until it terminates on the Rhine with the Fascherberg, north of Meyenfeld. The crest of this moun tain-wall, which is about 10 miles wide and 30 miles long, is generally above the snow-line, and glaciers descend down its sides. The most elevated summit, the Scesa Plana, is 9318 feet above the sea-level. The Rbitticon divides Switzerland from the Tyrol.
The country between the ranges just described and the valley of the Upper Rhine extends more than 40 miles in length, and about 24 miles in width : it is filled with extensive mountain-masses, which are connected with the principal range by lower ridges. These lower ridges sometimes constitute ranges several miles long, rising above the snow-line, and covered with glaciers. Of their summits the Zaporthorn, north of Piz Valrhin, rises to 10,841 feet ; and the Piz Beverina, on the west of the valley of the Hinter-Rhein, and south of Reichenau, to 8933 feet. The valleys which lie between these ranges and mountain-maases are very numerous, but they rarely exceed half a mile in width. The larger valleys are from west to east. Very little grain is cultivated In them, but potatoes and other vegetables are grown. Fruit-trees do not succeed, except in the lower parts, Most of them however have excellent pasture-grounds on the Alps, and the level tracts are converted into artificial meadows, which are irrigated. The valley of the Hinter-Rhein is the longest : the great roads between Coire,or Chur, and Italy pass through it. A road leads from Chur to the village of Spltigen, where it divides. The western road passes over the Bernhardin and leads to Bellinzona, in the canton of Ticino : the highest point of this road is 6201 feet above the sea. The eastern road traverses the Spliigen and leads to Chiavenna, in the valley of Bregaglia : the highest part is 6715 feet above the sea.
Both roads are passable fur carriages.
The southern chain of the Rhaetian Alpe, called the Bernina range, which name ie derived from a mountain-pass creased by the road from the valley of Engadin Into Italy, runs parallel to the principal range from aonth-sonth-west to north-north-east ; its southern extremity extends into Lombardy, and the northern into the Tyrol. It appears to be as high as the principal range, for a great part of the most elevated ridges are always covered with snow, and contain numerous glaciers. The most elevated summit is said to be that called Monte dcll'Oro, which stands south of, and not far from, the boundary-line of Switzerland, within the Austrian dominions. Between the Bernina range and the principal range of the Rhaetian Alps the beautiful pastoral valley of Engadin is inclosed. [Esoantx.) On the southern declivity of the Bernina range only two valleys of some extent belong to Switzerland : the valley of Miinater, which opens into the valley of the Adige at Glum' in the Tyrol; and the valley of Poschiavo, which is 15 miles long, and opens into the valley of the Adda at Tirane, in the province of Sondrio. The valley of I'oaehiavo Is a rich pastoral district, and derives considerable advan tage from the road over the Bernina Pass, which runs through it. Large droves of cattle go by this road from the valley of Engadin to Italy.
Numerous rivers rise on the southern declivities of the Rhaetian Alps, between the great field of ice in which the Aar and IthOne originate, and flow southward : they all unite in the river Tessin, or Ticino. The country drained by these rivers is called Italian Switzer land, because the Italian language is spoken by the inhabitants. It is traversed by several mountain-ranges, which run southward and occupy the greater part of Its area. Many parts of these ranges rise above the line of trees and shrubs, but none of the summits attain the snow-line. Between the ranges there are several valleys of con siderable extent ; the three largest are those of Misocco, Levantina, and Maggie. All of them are very fertile. In their upper parts, which are about 3000 feet above the sea-level, very little gram is culti vated, and the inhabitants live on the produce of their herds. In the middle parts of the valleys maize and other kinds of grain are grown, and vines and fruit trees abound, especially the chestnut- and walnut-tree. The lower parts, whose climate approaches that of Italy, have considerable plantations of fig-trees and mulberry-trees. A con siderable quantity of silk is annually collected in these valleys and neat to pe manufacturing districts : no other part of Switzerland contains such extensive forests and such fine trees. The great road which traverses the mountain-pass of Saint Gothard rune through the valley of Levantine, and that which crosses the St. Bernhardin through the valley of Misocco. As the southern declivity of the Alps is very steep, these valleys are subject to very extensive and destructive inundations during heavy rains.