IlL The Plain of Switzerland extends in the direction of north east from the banks of the Lake of Geneva to the lower course of the Reuse from Roth to Its confluence with the Aar. Its western border joins the Jura Mountains. This plain is properly a large valley, 'fur rounded by mountains, and extending eouth-west and north-east more than 100 miles in length, with a breadth varying from 20 to 30 miles, On the southern and western border of the plain are four consider able lakes : the lakes of Geneva, Neufchatel, Morat, and Bienne, which are at different elevations above the sea-level ; the Lake of Geneva is 1223 feet above the sea, Morat is 1450 feet, Neufchatel 1429 feet, and Blenne 1410 feet. A high swell, which is called Mont Arai, extends westward from the Dent-de-Jarnan, the most western summit of the Alps in this part of Switzerland, to the Lake of Geneva, between Montreux and Vevey. It proceeds westward along the lake and close to its banks to Ouchy, west of Lausanne. The rocky declivity with which it descends towards the lake is in many places between Vevey and Lausanne so steep, that the road between those two towns is cut In the rock. At Ouchy it recedes from the lake, and runs north-west towards the Jnra Mountains; but It does not reach them, being divided from these mountains by a narrow deproodon. This depression is chiefly covered with swamps, from which a small river, called Noeon, runs northward and joins the Orbe, which falls into the Lake of whist the Veiron, another small ricer originating in the same depression, flows southward to the Lake of Geneva. Mont Jorat descends gradually towards the north, and Its long slopes extend to the distance of 10 miles from the Lake of NeufehAteL Where it is crossed by the road leading from Lausanne to Meriden, Its upper crest is 3039 feet above the sea-level; but farther east, In the vicinity of the Alps, It rises to 3500 feet. The whole country between the lakes of Genova and Neufchatel, with the exception of the steep descent towards the Lake of Geneva, presents a succession of round-backed hills or short ranges, sloping very gradually on all sides, and Interspersed with open valleys, which frequently enlarge to small plains. The eminences decrease in ele vation as they approach the Lake of Neufchatel, and the country on its banks can only be called undulating. There are few tracts which cannot be cultivated. The soil is rather fruitful; the whole country is covered either with corn-fields, on which maize, wheat, barley, &c., are grown, or with orchards or vineyards. The vineyards are very extensive on the Lake of Geneva, and yield some good wine. The plantations of chestnut-treee are extensive, and almond-trees and fig-trees abound.
Another swell of high ground traverses tho plain iu a different direction. It is connected with the Jorat Mountains south-east of Mondon, and extends thence in a north-east by east direction to the town of Freyburg. From Freyburg it passes south of the town of Bern, where it declines more to the east, terminating at Mont Napf, which stands on the north-western border of the mountain region. This swell rises about 1000 feet above its base, which may be 1500 feet above the sea-leveL It contains a few summits : one of the highest of them is Mont Biitschel, south of the town of Bern, which rises to 3450 feet above the sea-level. On the spacious and level summit and the gentle declivities of this swell, pastures and cultivated fields succeed one another, with orchards and vineyards.
The remainder of the plain has generally an undulating surface, the eminences rarely rising into hills, and most of the elopes being gentle.
There occur also some level tracts, the largest of which is the low country between the lakes of Neufchatel, Morat, and Bienne, which, when the rains have been very abundant, is overflowed. Within this portion of the plain only a few isolated summits occur, which rise from 1000 to 2000 feet above their base. The highest of them is the Bantiger, north-east of Bern, which rises to 3438 feet. The soil is of moderate fertility ; it is mostly under the plough, and produces all kinds of grain, as well as hemp and flax. Vineyards are not extensive, and the wine is not good; but other fruits, especially apples, pears, plums, walnuts, and cherries, are very abundant : from the cherries kirsehwasser is made. At the north-eastern extremity of this country is the Lindenberg, a moderate swell, about 500 feet above its base, which is remarkable for the horizontal line in which its crest runs for 20 miles, between Roth and Lenzburg. Not an eminence is observed on it.
The principal river of this plain is the Aar, which receives the Saane, Thiele or Ziel, Emmen, and Reuss. None of these affluents of the Aar is navigable, except the Thiele, which is navigated by river bargee and steam-boats to the lakee of Bienne and Neufchatel. The largest lakes are those of Geneva [Lemax], Neufchatel [Neueelterm], Morat [FRETBURG, VOL it. col. 1095], and Bienne [Bens, vol. i. col. 1050]. These lakes abound in fish. In the north-eastern dis tricts of the plain are several smaller lakes. The largest of them is that of Sempach, north-west of Luzern, which is about 5 miles long, but in no part more than a mile wide. It is 1695 feet above the sea level, and 256 feet above the Lake of Luzern, which shows that the country has a considerable rise between the two lakes.
1V. The Region of the Jura Mountains occupies the west part of Switzerland, lying between the plain and France. This elevated region occupies about 150 miles in length, with a width of about 30 miles. It extends from the Rhone, where that river runs underground (Perte du-Rhone), in a north-east direction, to the banks of the Aar and the Rhine. About half of this region lies within France. In Switzerland it extends over the western districts of the canton of Vaud, the whole area of that of Neufchatel, the north-western districts of Bern, the greater parts of Solothurn and Basel, and a portion of Aargau. It rises from the Plain of Switzerland with a steep ascent to an elevation of 3000 feet, and at this elevation it is traversed in its length by many low chains, which divide the whole surface of the region into numerous longitudinal valleys. Many of these valleys are connected with one another by depressions, while others are entirely surrounded by hills, and the water which collects in them escapes by natural tunnels. On the low and narrow ridges which divide these valleys a few summits rise from 600 to 2000 feet above their base. The highest summits of the Jura Mountains are in France. Within Switzerland are Mont Dole (5515 feet) and Mont Tendre (5522 feet), which lie west and north-west of the Lake of Geneva, and Mont Chasseron (5223 feet), west of the Lake of Neufchatel, and Mont Chasseral (5211 feet), north-west of the Lake of Biennia. Mont Terrible, which stands close to the great bend of the Doubs and on the north-west edge of the Jura Mountains, attains only 2553 feet above the sea-leveL But in the southern and central part of this region are several other summits which rise between 4000 and 5000 feet.