Abstract
THE new Ergänzungsheft (No. 86) of Petermann's Mitteilungen contains a monograph of great importance in scientific geography by Dr. Rudolf Credner, Professor of Geography at Greifswald, on “Die Reliktenseen,” which he defines broadly so as to include all lakes of marine origin, whether they do or do not now contain remains of marine fauna. The author considers such lakes of so great importance in connexion with the evolution of the earth, that he thinks it the duty of physical geography to critically examine all data concerning lakes which may have a claim to be regarded as of marine origin, and decide whether such claim is justifiable. He discusses the evidences on which lakes may be regarded as of marine origin—historical, morphological, biological, and with regard to existing names. He then devotes considerable space to the discussion of the claims of lakes in all parts of the world to be regarded as of such origin; to the relations between salt- and fresh-water fauna; and to a critical examination of the faunistic argument for the marine origin of existing inland lakes. He concludes that none of the arguments derived from the considerations referred to have a convincing importance in deciding as to the marine origin of lakes. Dr. Credner is of opinion that the question can only be satisfactorily solved on the geological evidence furnished by the various lake regions; and this argument he means to develop in a second part of this very valuable monograph.
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Geographical Notes . Nature 36, 65–66 (1887). https://doi.org/10.1038/036065c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/036065c0