The earth and its inhabitants .. . ers menperished of cold were the Citarma uplands inhabited by the formidable TaironaIndians. Later other Spanish expeditions invaded these heights in search of gold,and exterminated their inhabitants. In recent times the sierra has been visitedby Fane, Karsten, Acosta, Sicvers, and other explorers, who ascended the slopesto the neighbouihood of the snow-line. Simons came within a short distance ofthe great peak in 1875, when he crossed the Paramo de Chirugua at an altitudeof 1G,000 feet. During a second exploration he was arrested some 500 feet belowthe summi
The earth and its inhabitants .. . ers menperished of cold were the Citarma uplands inhabited by the formidable TaironaIndians. Later other Spanish expeditions invaded these heights in search of gold,and exterminated their inhabitants. In recent times the sierra has been visitedby Fane, Karsten, Acosta, Sicvers, and other explorers, who ascended the slopesto the neighbouihood of the snow-line. Simons came within a short distance ofthe great peak in 1875, when he crossed the Paramo de Chirugua at an altitudeof 1G,000 feet. During a second exploration he was arrested some 500 feet belowthe summit, variously estimated at from 17,350 to 19,000 feet high. At lastJ. de Brettes and Manuel Nunez reached the highest point from the south, whichIS by far the most accessible slope, thanks to its less rugged character, the absenceof forests, and the greater elevation of the snow-line. The central granitic group stands 28 miles from the sea in a straight line,which would give a general incline of not more than 3 in 10 yards; but the. Zi< a THE SIEBRA DE SANTA MARTA. 141 intervening terraces, precipices, and lateral ridges render all direct approachabsolutely impossible. The formations are chiefly granites and metamorphic rocks,besides a few more recent lavas. Tradition even speaks of violent eruptions duringthe last century in the very heart of the mountains, and earthquakes are still offrequent occurrence. Even on the north side, where they attain their greatest development, thepermanent snows scarcely descend below the line of 13,000 feet. The glaciersare also few and of small size, though Acosta found clear traces of older glaciers Fig. 52.—SiEEBA Xevada DE Santa 1 : 2,000,000. m^ronea igfc _-^ y -?^Ik/.u,- L^i^d
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectgeography, bookyear18
