'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia: About 1889-1890' [‎591r] (1202/1486)

TABREEZ.
3
several considerable rivers: firstly, on the north the Araxes,
which for a long distance forms the boundary between Russia and
Persia, is a river of considerable volume.
It finally, after entering Russian territory, falls into the Kour Eivcrs
or Cyrus river, which falls into the Caspian Sea, south of Baku.
1 he Ivitzil Ouzen is also a cousiderable stream, which, for a large
portion bf its course, passes through Azarbaijan. It carries down
a large volume of water, and falls into the Caspian a little east of
Rcsht, but, in the lowest portion of its course, it changes its name,
and is known as the Safid Roud. Besides these two rivers which
fall into the Caspian, there are many streams of considerable
volume which are most useful for irrigation purposes, and which
fall into the lake of Urumia. The river which chiefly irrigates
the country near Tabreez is the Adji Chai. It is brackish, and
the water is not used for drinking, but produces good crops.
Any one examining a map of this part of the world on any Lakes,
but the smallest scale must be struck by the curious system of
great lakes which are here found, situated at a great elevation
above the sea. These are the lake of Urumia, situated 4,100
feet above sea level, Lake Van, and the Guektcha lake. Lake
Van is in Turkish territory and the Guektcha lake in Russian
territory, though both are near the border of Azarbaijan.
A description is here given of the lake of Urumia, the largest
and most important of these lakes. It is 84 miles long and 24
miles broad, and is probably the saltest piece of water on earth,
being much salter than the Deal Sea. The water contains
nearly 22 per cent, of salt. Its northern coasts are encrusted
with a border of salt glittering white in the sun. It is said that
no living thing can survive in it, but a very small species
°f jelly fish does exist in its waters. Many streams pour
down from the Kurdish mountains which border Turkey, and
render the country between them and the lake of Urumia very
green and fertile. This part of the country looks more like
India than Persia, but the climate is severe in winter. The Climate
variations of temperature are extreme both between day and
night and summer and winter. The whole country being
situated at a high elevation, the best cultivated portions of it
varying from 4,000 feet to 5,000 feet above ocean level, the snow
fall in winter is great. Communication over the plains is difficult
for some weeks in winter, while the passes through the various
ranges of mountains, which form so conspicuous a feature of the
country, are closed often for a considerable period. At night in
winter the thermometer falls frequently below zero of Fahrenheit,
but in the day time it rises considerably, generally reaching 28°
or 30°, and this with a bright sun overhead. Many people are
frozen to death on the roads in winter while crossing the various
passes. The winter climate may be compared to Canada, but
the summer climate approaches that of Northern India, with the
diflerence that the nights are always cool and often even chilly
after hot days.
In summer everything grow r s in the greatest luxuriance,