Ad99998 04 062a/eng
Schnee-Gebirge : Ansicht des Montblanc
Beschreibungstext eng
Miscellanies. XLIII. Vol. IV. No. 60., MOUNTAINS COVERED WITH SNOW., View of Mont-Blanc., In all the parts of the World the summits of high mountains are to a certain depth of the Atmofphere which ia called the Snoiv-Une, fo. x ever clolhed vvith a mantle of fnow; yet this etevnal fnow melting continually at the bottom by thé natural heat of the earth, forms many fources, Jo that these peaks and ridges of ice and fnow by the wife contrivance of nature feem to be ihe refervers of water, from which lovera] large rivers issue., One of the largest and most diverging Inow-ridges are the alps of Switzerland and especially the Mont-Blanc, which is the higheft mountain in the ancient world, and whofe profpect is represented in the annexed picture. The little agreeable Valley from which we fee the mountain, liôs near the village Chede and the little limpid lake in the forepirt of the picture is called-the Lake of chede. Ail «iround and quite clofe to this immensc fnow peak, green and rieh paftures are perceived, and the climat« is io warm and mild in this little valley that fruit and even grapes grow and ripen in it., Mont-Blanc or the white Mountain conHft. s of feve'ral pointed peaks, small vallevs and rocks which muft be croffed, before one arrives at it« bigheft point. The foot of Mont-Blanc extends to the valley of Chamouni which we have seen in the last picture and from which to the funimit of the mountain 18 hours are reckoned., Till the year 1775 the fummit was deemed inaccefl'ible; the danger of fallin g into the immenfe chasms and abyffes or of perishing for want of strcngth and the fear to be deprived of breath in this formidable height, kept the boldeft from attempting the afeent; onlyin the year 1775 lèverai attempts were made by the fuggestion of the famous naturalist M. de Sauffure; but many failed tili at lait Dr. Paccard, phyfî. ciari of Chamouny fucceeded on the 8 of August 1786; after him M. de Sauffure and many others reached the fummit, from which the loftieft alps appear like hillocks.
