The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

212 RUSSIA IN EUROPE.Such lacustrine inundations are of frequent occurrence, all the upper lakestending constantly to drain into the lower basins. Hence, as we ascend from thelowlands about Lake Ladoga towards the higher grounds of Suomen-Selka, thesebasins uniformly diminish in size, and betray evidence of the former higher levels.Still, of all European lands, Finland has least succeeded in getting rid of thesurface waters representing the lacustrine jieriod which followed the glacial epoch.Fig. 103.Hottiaiken Drainage Works.According to KrapoUtin. Scale 1 : 145,000.L.of C.|__ J Declaimed Land.2 Miles.It is studded even more than Sweden with lakes, ponds, pools, and swamps, and inthe south, or as far north as Lake Ulea, nearly half the surface is still under water.Since the retreat of the glaciers the river alluvia and vegetation have been unableto fill in more than a very small portion of the lacustrine basins. Thanks to itshard granite, gneiss, and porphyry rocks, combined with the slight tilt, of the land