Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/349

 CORDILLERA 345 barrier between the two oceans. The distance across varies from 30 to 70 m. The railroad constructed from Aspinwall on the Atlantic side to Panama on the Pacific coast traverses the isthmus in a length of 48 m., ascending to the summit level only 300 ft. It is said that the. summit level between Port Escoces on the Atlantic and the mouth of the Savanna in the harbor of Darien is only 150 ft. above the sea, and this point is suggested as the most favora- ble for a ship canal between the two oceans. Yet the mountains, as seen from the sea, pre- sent the appearance of continuous ranges of great height, the overlapping of the ridges con- cealing the gaps, the valleys and low lands, and the thickly wooded plains that lie between the mountains. The un healthiness of this portion, the incessant rains that fall during a considera- ble part of the year, the almost impenetrable nature of its forests, and the inhospitable dis- position of the Indians that occupy the terri- tory, have prevented its resources from being developed. These ridges present steep slopes toward the Pacific ; on the Atlantic side they fall away more gently. The San Juan river finds its way through them from Lake Nicara- gua to the Atlantic, the main range, called the Alto Grande, continuing to the N. E. of this lake and of the adjacent smaller lake, Managua. On the other side a straight and narrow moun- tainous belt separates these lakes from the Pa- cific, which belt is so unbroken that, though the waters of the lakes and the ocean approach within 12 m. of each other, and a stage road passes across from Rivas to San Juan del Sur, yet no favorable route appears to exist for the construction of a ship canal, even if the rapids of the San Juan in its passage through the Cor- dilleras were so improved as to form a part of the interoceanic communication. Along this western range occur several volcanoes and many extinct craters and beds of lava, though the real volcanic belt lies a little further east, passing through the western portion of the two lakes. The central basin between the two outer mountain ranges, including the two lakes, and extending about 300 m. in length by about 150 in width, comprises the fine state of Nica- ragua, a country presenting the greatest diver- sity of beautiful scenery. The rugged moun- tains on each side are the frames in which are included the broad fertile plains and the large lakes, one of which extends in a parallel direc- tion with the mountains a distance of about 100 m. From its surface and on its shore huge volcanoes rise abruptly to the height of several thousand feet ; others appear ranged along the same line, disturbing the smooth contour of the vast plains, above which they stand dark and gloomy, their sides rent with the deep volcanic fissures and black with their covering of an- cient lavas. The shores of the lakes are cov- ered with the dense vegetation of the tropics, while the broad slopes of the Alto Grande overlooking them are the open grazing lands for countless herds of cattle. Beyond these, along the summits of the great range, and upon the sources of the streams which flow into the Atlantic, is. the mineral region of Chontales, Matagalpa, and Segovia, extending further northward into Honduras. The geological formations of the western portion of the basin appear to be almost wholly of a volcanic char- acter, as basaltic rocks and lava, with lime- stone and a calcareous breccia formed in great part of volcanic products. The volcanoes still emit smoke and sometimes flame from their summits, but streams of lava are rarely known to flow from them. Some of the larger, as that of Momobacho (about 5,000 ft. high) on Lake Nicaragua, a few miles S. of the city of Granada, are regarded as extinct. The volca- nic cone of Ometepec, upon an island in the same lake, is very regularly shaped, and, like the neighboring summit of Madeira, rises to a greater height than Momobacho. The volca- noes El Viejo and Momotombo, N. W. of Lake Managua, are about 6,000 ft. high. The cli- mate of this portion of the Cordilleras is salu- brious and of moderate temperature, cooled by the trade winds after these have shed a con- siderable portion of the moisture they come charged with from the Atlantic upon the east- ernmost ridges of the range. The rains are therefore not excessive even during the rainy season, which extends from May to November. The thermometer during this season rarely sinks by night so low as 70 upon the plains, or rises in the day to 90. In the dry season the temperature is somewhat lower, and the nights are cool, especially upon the mountains. Through Honduras, San Salvador, and Guate- mala the Cordilleras continue with little varia- tion of character. On the east they send out spurs toward the Atlantic, and the inferior vol- canic range still skirts the Pacific. Five volca- noes are enumerated in San Salvador, the most active of which is Yzalco, and the two highest, San Vicente and San Salvador, are each esti- mated to rise to an elevation of about 7,500 ft. In Guatemala six volcanoes are in activity, viz. : Pacaya, Fuego, Agua (which pours forth torrents of water), estimated to be about 14,000 ft. high, Atitlan, 12,500 ft., Sapotitlan and Amilpas, 13,000 ft. Earthquakes are frequent throughout this region. Upon the main range of the mountains, in the department of Teguci- galpa in Honduras, at the source of the Patuca or Patook, which flows into the Atlantic, it is stated that 40 silver mines are found within a circuit of 30 miles radius ; but from want of en- terprise in the inhabitants they are worked to little advantage. Near the Pacific coast copper ores are found abundantly, but they too are neglected. They are also met with in the Le- paguare valley in the department of Olancho, and were formerly worked to supply the mint at Tegucigalpa, the ores being carried eight days' journey upon the backs of mules. These regions produce in great abundance valuable mahogany, rosewood, red cedar, boxwood, India rubber, vanilla, cochineal, sarsaparilla,