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The Formation of Lake Geneva

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

E. Joukowsky
Affiliation:
(Paris).

Extract

On studying a topographical map of Lake Geneva, two characteristic features strike one at once. There is, first of all, the division of the basin into two parts of different orientation—the “Grand Lac” set almost E.W., and the “Petit Lac” deviated by about 60° towards the S.S.W. The inhabitants of the region have always distinguished between the “Grand Lac”, also called “Haut Lac”, and the “Petit Lac”. The former has a depth of 300 metres and consists of a single basin, the floor of which is remarkably flat whilst the second, separated from the other by a submerged ridge 66·3 metres below the surface, begins by a first fosse76·2 metres deep, followed by three others 70·1, 70·4, and 50·1 metres deep respectively. IfLake Geneva is considered as having a single origin, and if the theory of glacial overdeepening is adopted, it is very difficult to explain the ridge separating the two basins. On the other hand, the “Haut Lac”, taken alone, presents nothing abnormal, compared with other basins in whose formation glaciers have taken a large part.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1927

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References

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