Atlantic Soundings

Abstract

THE recently-announced discovery by Commander Gorringe, of the United States sloop Gettysburg, of a bank of soundings bearing N. 85° W., and distant 130 miles from Cape St. Vincent, during the last voyage of the vessel across the Atlantic, taken in combination with previous soundings obtained in the same region of the North Atlantic, suggests the probable existence of a submarine ridge or plateau connecting the island of Madeira with the coast of Portugal, and the possible subaerial connection in prehistoric times of that island with the south-western extremity of Europe. The soundings obtained in January, 1873, by H.M.S. Challenger, and in July, 1874, by the German frigate Gazelle, furnish additional data, with the help of which the accompanying contour-chart has been constructed.