. The Quarterly journal of the Geological Society of London. ned its original high level, and theRhine, as already stated, flowed through the upland slopes formedof Devonian rocks now lying between Bingen and Konigswinter,it first began to form the gorge; and as this work of wateryerosion went on, the water, constantly deepening its channel, atlength scooped it to its present depth. The traces of its temporary levels as the river cut its way down,may still be seen on the cliffs high above the present surface of thewater. Thus on the hill behind Bingen, called the Rochusberg,on the spur of Devo
. The Quarterly journal of the Geological Society of London. ned its original high level, and theRhine, as already stated, flowed through the upland slopes formedof Devonian rocks now lying between Bingen and Konigswinter,it first began to form the gorge; and as this work of wateryerosion went on, the water, constantly deepening its channel, atlength scooped it to its present depth. The traces of its temporary levels as the river cut its way down,may still be seen on the cliffs high above the present surface of thewater. Thus on the hill behind Bingen, called the Rochusberg,on the spur of Devonian quartz rock on which the Hotel Hartmannstands, there is a chapel, called St. Roche, standing on the relics of aplain 341 feet above the river, and which a little further west risesto a height of nearly 400 feet. This plateau, also in a fragmentaryshape, is continued further down the Rhine. Where the gorgebegins, going down the river, it presents the outline shown in fig. 4. Fig. 4.—Section across the Rhine Valley, showing the present and old 1. The present level of the Ehine. 2. Part of an old level of tbe Part of the hilly ground beyond, that formed the original river-bank. Lower down the river, below Mederheimbach, the left bank, lookedat in front, presents the aspect shown in fig. 5. The plain, 3, slopes gently to the north; and numerous gullies orminor valleys, which open out just above the present bank of theRhine and end in the plain above, have been produced by atmosphericdecomposition and rain and snow during the time that the riverhas been cutting its way from 3, its higher, to 1, its present level. At Wellmich, looking down the river, the general appearance ofthe high banks is given in fig. 6, which shows the terraced plain onthe left bank receding to the north in a gradual perspective, themore hilly ground to the right and left that bounds these terracedplains not being visible from this point of view. 90 A. C. RAMSAY ON THE PHYSICAL HISTOEY
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, bookidquarte, booksubjectgeology
