The depression which occurs east of the Winacher Mountains is of considerable extent, for no summit always covered with snow occurs in a space extending more than 18 miles from west to east. No sum mit of this part of the Tyrolian Alps probably exceeds 7500 feet in height ; and in the middle, near 11° 30' E. long., it sinks much lower : the road from Innsbruck to Trent, over the Brenner, is at its highest level (47' N. lat.) not more than 4374 feet above the sea-level. This is the lowest mountain-road across the Alps, and has accordingly become the most frequented line of commercial intercourse between Germany and Italy. Innsbruck is about 1920 and Trent 960 feet above the sea-level.
Esat of the Brenner the most elevated masses of the Tyrolian Alps constitute an elevated ground running from west to east. Towards its eastern extremity this high tract constitutes the boundary between the Tyrol and the district of Salzach in Austria. It contains an almost uninterrupted series of snow-capped mountains. The highest summits appear to be the Schwarzeustein, the Drei Herrn Spitz, and the Gross Ulockner, which rises to 12,438 feet above the sea-level.
On the north-west and north of the mountain region hitherto noticed, and separated from them by the valley of the Inn River, extends another range, containing the sources of the rivers Lech and Isar, which descend from it northward, and enter the Plain of Bavaria. In this range only a few summits rise above the snow-line. The highest are the Arlberg, which is 10,200 feet, and the Great Solstein, which is 9702 feet above the sea-level. West of the last mentioned summit runs the road which leads from the Plain of Bavaria to Innsbruck.
The mountains which fill up the south-eastern portion of the Tyrol are called the Cando Alps. They begin on the south-west, on the banks of the Etsch, north-west of Verona, and extend partly within the Tyrol, and partly on its boundary-line with the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, in a trorth-enatern direction to the source of the river Drau, where they turn to the east and leave the Tyrol. Very few summits of this extensive mountain region reach the snow-line. The most elevated is Monte Marmolata, which rises to 11,500 feet above the pea-level. The connection between this tango and the Eastern Tyrolian Alps Is formed by a moderately elevated and narrow ridge, which occurs mar 12' 12' E. long., and separates the sources of the Drau, which flows eastward, from those of the river Itienz, which runs westward and joins the Eisaeh at Brixen. On the north this ridge Is connected with the extensive snow masses and glaciers which occur south of the Drei Herrn Spitz. Over this ridge runs the road which connects the Tyrol with Austria, running from Brixen to Liens mud Illyria. From this another road branches off at Toblach to the southward, which leads over the I'entelsteiner Pass to Treviso and Venke.
The mountain road over Monte Stilvio, or the Stilfeerjoch, was constructed by the Austrian government between 1820 and 1825, for the purpose of eataLlishing a direct communication between tho Tyrol and the Valteline. This road passes over the elevated and snow- '
covered mountain masses which lie north-west of the Ortler Sptiz, and its highest level rises to 0174 feet above the sea, or nearly 1500 feet above the snow-line. It is the loftiest carriage-road in Europe ; but it has been abandoned for a new road constructed since 1853 through the defile of Tousle, the highest part of which is only 6250 feet above the sea-leveL The old road over the Stilvio, besides being exposed to avalanches, was often impassable for months on account of the snow.
The largest rivers of the Tyrol aro the In [Ausenia, vol. i. col. 719], and the Anion, or Etsch. The Inn enters the Tyrol by a very narrow valley at Finsterrniinz. Its course within the Tyrol is about 100 miles, and it becomes navigable for small riverboats at Telfs, about 20 miles above Innsbruck, and for larger river-boats at Hall, about 8 miles below lunabruek. Below Kufstein it leaves the Tyrol and enters Bavaria. The Etaeh runs easteouth-east, and after its junction with the Eisach, below Botzen, southward, and here begins to be navigated. At Bole ghetto it leaves the Tyrol and enters Austrian Italy. The navigation of these rivers is difficult, and frequently interrupted by their rapidity, especially after the melting of the snow in the mountains.
As a great portion of the country, probably one-tenth, is always covered with snow, whilst its moat southern valleys are hardly 500 feet above the sea-level, the climate of the Tyrol must differ greatly in different places. At Innsbruck the mean temperature of the winter is Fehr., and that of the summer is 64°. The mean annual temperature is 49°, or ono degree less than at London. At Trent the mean annual temperature is All those parts which on the north are 7500 feet, and on the south 8500 feet above the sea-level, are always covered with snow. Lower down, to an elevation of 6000 feet above the sea, snow is found all tho year round in places which are not much exposed to the euu, but in other places the declivities of the mountains are covered with grass and flowers. In the region between 6000 and 5000 feet trees do not grow, but there aro some bushes, between which the soil is covered with grass that serves for pasture during two or three months in summer. There are no houses inhabited all the year round at this elevation. Fir-trees occur only at an elevation of between 5000 and 4000 feet, where a few permanent habitations are found, and some potatoes and vegetables are cultivated. The winter lasts in this region eight or nine months. Agriculture is carried on with success in all places below 4000 feet. Rye and barley are grown, and potatoes to a considerable extent. Apple- and pear-trees succeed at the eleva tion of 4000 feet, but plum-trees only up to 3800 feet, and walnut trees to 3600 feet. The beech is found between 3000 and 4000 feet, and the oak between 1800 and 3000 feet above the sea-leveL Wheat does not succeed above 3000 feet, and vines only between 800 and 1800 feet.