Nechacco River.

Well-preserved
moraines.

Ched-a-kuz-ko.

Character of
the country.

42 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

rises rather abruptly, at first in well marked terraces to a height of
probably 200 feet, and then in irregular undulations to the summits of
a range of hills, which appears to attain a height of 800 to 1,000 feet
above the lake, at a distance of a mile or two from it. Somewhat east of
these, and beyond them, another and higher range is seen, at a distance
of eight or ten miles. To the north-east, the low distant mountains of
the Telegraph Range appear, with the valley of the Nechacco running
towards them. The eastern edge of the Toot-i-ai Mountains is rather
indefinite, sloping gradually down towards low country.

The Nechacco, where it issues from the eastern end of Na-tal-kuz
Lake, is a noble stream, nearly 200 feet wide, deep, with strong steady
current, and filled with clear blue water. The lake is pretty evidently
dammed by moraine matter, through which the river has since cut its
way. The moraines are more perfectly preserved here than I have
elsewhere seen them, forming long sharp-topped and slightly sinuous
ridges, which sweep round in broad curves, nearly parallel to the river
valley for some miles. They are separated by narrow, deep, V-shaped
valleys, and are probably in some instances over 200 feet in height.
The slopes of these peculiar ridges are covered with bunch grass, and
occasionally with sage, (Artemisia frigida), while in many places service
berries abound, and were found quite ripe on the 18th of August.

About four miles beyond the outlet of Na-tal-kuz Lake, the river
receives an important affluent from the south. This stream is called by
the Indians Ched-a-kuz-ko, and carries the waters of Kuy-a-kuz and Ta-
tel-kuz Lakes, mentioned in a former connection. On August 18th it
was estimated to be forty feet wide, by about eight inches deep, with a
rapid current. Its valley near the Nechacco is wide and flat-bottomed,
with pretty meadows through which it pursues a tortuous course. From
a knoll in the vicinity it can be seen to continue as a wide depression
for at least eight miles, with a bearing of S. 19° E.

East of the Ched-a-kuz-ko the morainic character of the superficial
deposits is not nearly so well marked, the ridges showing a tendency to
become flat-topped, and eventually blending with broad sandy flats, at a
small elevation above the river, which are covered sparcely with pine
trees. From this point to its first great bend—eleven » miles—the
Nechacco flows in broad curves, in a wide valley, with broad flats on
alternate sides. The current, as far as could be seen from our trail,
appears throughout steady, and the water deep. The higher slopes of
the valley and country beyond continue densely wooded, with few
prairie patches even on the northern bank. Terraces are in some places