. The earth and its inhabitants ... e west by Socompoz (19,620), Guanaquero,and Llullaillaco (21,670). These, also, despite their great altitude and easy access,are little known, and Licancaur alone has been ascended to within 1,300 feet ofthe summit by Steinmann, who found traces of habitations up to the point reachedby him. The whole of the Atacama region is occupied by parallel ranges disposed mostlynorth and south, but also throwing off irregular spurs and foothills of considerableelevation. Even in the vicinity of the coast heights occur exceeding 6,500 feet,and here Trigo rises to 8,780
. The earth and its inhabitants ... e west by Socompoz (19,620), Guanaquero,and Llullaillaco (21,670). These, also, despite their great altitude and easy access,are little known, and Licancaur alone has been ascended to within 1,300 feet ofthe summit by Steinmann, who found traces of habitations up to the point reachedby him. The whole of the Atacama region is occupied by parallel ranges disposed mostlynorth and south, but also throwing off irregular spurs and foothills of considerableelevation. Even in the vicinity of the coast heights occur exceeding 6,500 feet,and here Trigo rises to 8,780 feet, while the Cerro Negro farther inland east ofAntofagasta attains 10,970 feet. The Caracoles or Shell Mountains, so calledfrom their fossil ammonites, also exceed 10,000. PHYSICAL FEATURES OF CHILI. 409 The Mejillones Range. Beyond the normal coast-line has been developed the steep rampart of theMejillones Chain, whose bold southern headland rises 4,150 feet above the Jorge Fig. 153. —Mejillones ChainScale 1 : 900,000. ^^STW^. 7050 West or breenwich 70*30* 0 to 100Fathoms. Depths. 100 to 1,000 Fathoms. Fathomsand upwards. 18 Miles. ■or Chiraba Bay. The plain connecting this inlet with that of Mejillones at thenorth end of the range is evidently a marine bed upheaved at a comparativelyrecent epoch. The lowest strata resting on the hard rock contain thick siliciouslayers, a species of tripolite, composed almost entirely of the remains of marine 410 SOUTH AMEEICA—THE ANDES EEGIONS. organisms, such as infusoria, urchins and corals. Above follow shell sandstones^gypsum, and beds of native salt, succeeded on the surface by sands covered withshell mounds, the remains of mussels and other species resembling those still livingin the neighbouring waters. The Chilian Andes Proper. Juncal (17,530 feet) and towards the south-west Dona Inez (18,245) are the firstgreat summits of the Andean Cordillera within the former limits of Chili. A littlefarther south is the converging p
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectgeography, bookyear18
