Abstract
MR. EDWARD WHYMPER on Monday last addressed a large meeting of the Geographical Society on some features in his recent journey among the Great Andes of the Equator. His paper was not, however, of so popular a nature as those which he read before the Alpine Club and the Society of Arts. The chief facts left on the minds of his very attentive audience may be briefly stated. Mr. Whymper found by careful experiments that aneroid barometers are not to be depended upon for the determination of heights, and that there is a remarkable difference in altitudes as fixed by the boiling point of water and the mercurial barometer. He asserted, as the result of his observations, that it is a mistake to suppose that there are two parallel chains in the Ecuadorian Andes, as usually shown on our maps. This is a point, however, on which more light is evidently required. Mr. Whymper's account of his ascent of the hitherto unknown peak called Sara-Urcu, was very interesting, and this achievement alone would stamp him a mountaineer of the highest skill and courage.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Geographical Notes . Nature 24, 41–42 (1881). https://doi.org/10.1038/024041b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/024041b0