On Some of the Larger Unexplored Regions of Canada1890 - Canada - 12 pages |
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On Some of the Larger Unexplored Regions of Canada (Classic Reprint) George Mercer Dawson No preview available - 2017 |
On Some of the Larger Unexplored Regions of Canada (Classic Reprint) George Mercer Dawson No preview available - 2017 |
Common terms and phrases
7,500 square miles A. K. Isbister Abbé Petitot agricultural approximate accuracy Arctic circle Arctic coast area mentioned Athabasca Back's River Bear Lake boundary of Alaska Britain and Ireland broken lines Canada character characterized as unexplored climate coast of Hudson comparatively confidence continent Coppermine River Cordillera country includes country traversed crossed delineate distance Dominion Dunvegan east entirely exploration and survey explorer or surveyor fertile soil Geog geographical Hamilton Inlet hardy crops Hearne Hudson Bay Company Indians interior isothermal journeys kind Labrador lakes and rivers larger unexplored areas latitude Lewes Liard low land M'Lean Mackenzie River maps metalliferous mineral missionary mode of definition nearly Newfoundland north-west northern Peace river Peel River Pelly plateau Portugal possess published information referred remarkable rivers shown Rocky Mountain routes Slave Lake Stikine thence timber tion tract of country traders travellers unexplored country unexplored regions Ungava Bay unknown utility western writes:-"The Yukon River
Popular passages
Page 9 - Hearne really wandered through parts of this region in company with Indians whom he was unable to control, his ultimate object (which he at length accomplished) being to reach the Coppermine River, in order to ascertain for the Hudson's Bay Company whether it was possible to utilize the native copper found there.
Page 10 - Gilder. 16. Area comprising almost the entire interior of the Labrador peninsula or North-east Territory, 289,000 square miles. This is more than equal to twice the area of Great Britain and Ireland, with an added area equal to that of Newfoundland.
Page 7 - This has been penetrated only by a few 'prospectors,' from whom, and from Indians, the courses of rivers shown on my maps published in connection with the Yukon Expedition Report are derived. It lies on the direct line of the metalliferous belt of the Cordillera, and its low lands are capable of producing hardy crops. 4. Area between the Pelly and Mackenzie Rivers, 100,000 square miles, or about twice the size of England. This belongs partly to the Yukon Basin and partly to that of the Mackenzie,...
Page 11 - To sum up briefly, in conclusion, what has been said as to the larger unexplored areas of Canada, it may be stated that while the entire area of the Dominion is computed at 3,470,257 square miles about 954,000 square miles of the continent, alone, exclusive of the inhospitable detached Arctic portions, is for all practical purposes entirely unknown. In this estimate the area of the unexplored country is reduced to a, minimum by the mode of definition employed. Probably...
Page 4 - ... they may be utilized, in the second by what highways such regions may be most easily reached. A glance at the map will show, that while many of the larger unexplored areas may be affirmed to lie to the north of the limit of profitable agriculture, considerable regions situated to the south of this limit still await examination. Large districts, again, in which no farmer will ever voluntarily settle, may afford timber which the world will be glad to get when the white pine of our nearer forests...
Page 4 - ... knowledge, and of the discovery and definition of the reserves of the country in timber and minerals, the exploration of all these unknown or little-known regions may be amply justified. Taking a line drawn north and south in the longitude of the Red River Valley, which is, as nearly as may be, the centre of Canada from east to west, it may confidently be stated that by far the larger part of the country in which agricultural settlement is possible lies to the west, while the great bulk of the...
Page 11 - ... the May number of the Ottawa Naturalist, and now reprinted separately, Dr. GM Dawson brings together some striking facts with regard to the extent of Canadian territory which is still unexplored. The entire area of the Dominion is computed at 3,470,257 square miles, and he calculates that an area of 954,000 square miles of the continent alone, exclusive of the inhospitable detached Arctic portions, is for all practical purposes entirely unknown. In this estimate the area of the unexplored country...
Page 9 - Ocean, 1796. of the continent, and is the principal winter resort of the musk-ox as well as of great herds of caribou. Hearne's general characterization of it is not very encouraging, but certainly we shall know more about it. He writes : — ' The land throughout the whole tract of country is scarcely anything but one solid mass of rocks and stones, and in most parts very hilly, particularly to the westward, among the woods.
Page 11 - In all, it may be stated that " while the entire area of the Dominion is computed at 3,470,257 square miles, about 954,000 square miles of the continent alone, exclusive of the inhospitable detached arctic portions, is for all practical purposes entirely unknown. In this estimate the area of the unexplored country is reduced to a minimum by the mode of definition employed. Probably we should be much nearer the mark in assuming it as about one million square miles, or between one third and one fourth...
Page 7 - ... then, in the extreme north-west of the Dominion, we find these areas to be as follows : — I. Area between the eastern boundary of Alaska, the Porcupine River and the Arctic Coast, 9500 square miles, or somewhat smaller than Belgium. This area lies entirely within the Arctic Circle. 2. Area west of the Lewes and Yukon Rivers and extending to the boundary of Alaska, 32,000 square miles, or somewhat larger than Ireland. This country includes the head-waters of the White and probably of the Tanana...