Таємничий острів

           ThecoldwascomparabletothatexperiencedintheStatesofNewEngland,situatedatalmostthesamedistancefromtheequator.Inthenorthernhemisphere,oratanyrateinthepartoccupiedbyBritishAmericaandthenorthoftheUnitedStates,thisphenomenonisexplainedbytheflatconformationoftheterritoriesborderingonthepole,andonwhichthereisnointumescenceofthesoiltoopposeanyobstacletothenorthwinds;here,inLincolnIsland,thisexplanationwouldnotsuffice.

           "Ithasevenbeenobserved,"remarkedHardingonedaytohiscompanions,"thatinequallatitudestheislandsandcoastregionsarelesstriedbythecoldthaninlandcountries.IhaveoftenhearditassertedthatthewintersofLombardy,forexample,arenotlessrigorousthanthoseofScotland,whichresultsfromthesearestoringduringthewintertheheatwhichitreceivedduringthesummer.Islandsare,therefore,inabettersituationforbenefitingbythisrestitution."

           "Butthen,CaptainHarding,"askedHerbert,"whydoesLincolnIslandappeartoescapethecommonlaw?"

           "Thatisdifficulttoexplain,"answeredtheengineer."However,IshouldbedisposedtoconjecturethatthispeculiarityresultsfromthesituationoftheislandintheSouthernHemisphere,which,asyouknow,myboy,iscolderthantheNorthernHemisphere."

           "Yes,"saidHerbert,"andicebergsaremetwithinlowerlatitudesinthesouththaninthenorthofthePacific."