. Battlefields of the World War, western and southern fronts; a study in military geography . in the shelter of this re-entrant that the cityof Gorizia nestles under the protection of the bastion walls. North of the Wippach curtain is the massive Bainsizza bas-tion, repeating in essentials the features of the Carso we have the high limestone plateau, with a labyrinth ofhills and sink holes rendering its arid surface almost impassable,2nd steep rimming walls making it almost inaccessible. Againthere are bordering valley lowlands on either side; again thewestern end of the plateau
. Battlefields of the World War, western and southern fronts; a study in military geography . in the shelter of this re-entrant that the cityof Gorizia nestles under the protection of the bastion walls. North of the Wippach curtain is the massive Bainsizza bas-tion, repeating in essentials the features of the Carso we have the high limestone plateau, with a labyrinth ofhills and sink holes rendering its arid surface almost impassable,2nd steep rimming walls making it almost inaccessible. Againthere are bordering valley lowlands on either side; again thewestern end of the plateau is cut off from its eastward continua-tion (the Ternovane plateau) by a deep, dry valley, this timeknown as the Chiapovano valley; and again the Isonzo Riverforms a natural moat around the projecting apex of the just as the outlying highland strip carrying the Hermadastrengthens the southwestern wall of the Carso bastion, so thesouthwestern wall of the Bainsizza bastion is reinforced by thedetached ridge carrying Monte Santo, San Gabriele, and San 558 BATTLEFIELD OF THE ISONZO. ISONZO VALLEY 559 Daniele (Fig. 142). A new feature appears in the strong outlyingdefenses to the west formed by the fading spurs of the Alps, whichterminate southward in Monte Sabotino and the lower hills ofPodgora. THE ISONZO VALLEY The Isonzo River moat, which defends the approaches to bothbastions, the Wippach curtain, and the Trieste corridor, is in itsnorthern part a deep, steep-walled glacial trough, with a fairlyopen floor (Fig. 149), much of the way from its head to the isolated hills of Santa Lucia and other heights risingfrom the floor defend the important Tolmino basin, where streamsfrom three directions join the Isonzo and where the Predil Pass,Assling, and Idria mining region routes meet on their way toGorizia. From Tolmino southward the valley is a wild and pic-turesque gorge over 2,000 feet deep, with scarcely room in itsnarrow bottom for the two roads and railway
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectworldwar19141918
