951

On the formation of Gulfs.

HERE THE REASON IS GIVEN OF THE EFFECTS PRODUCED BY THE WATERS IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED PLACE.

All the lakes and all the gulfs of the sea and all inland seas are due to rivers which distribute their waters into them, and from impediments in their downfall into the Mediterranean —which divides Africa from Europe and Europe from Asia by means of the Nile and the Don which pour their waters into it. It is asked what impediment is great enough to stop the course of the waters which do not reach the ocean.

Taken from The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci edited by Jean Paul Richter, 1880.

Notebooks of Leonoardo da Vinci

XVI: Physical Geography.

. . .

Definitions.

931,

Of the surface of the water in relation to the globe.

933,

934,

935,

Of the proportion of the mass of water to that of the earth.

937,

The theory of Plato.

That the flow of rivers proves the slope of the land.

Theory of the elevation of water within the mountains.

The relative height of the surface of the sea to that of the land.

942,

943,

944,

Refutation of Pliny’s theory as to the saltness of the sea.

946,

The characteristics of sea water.

948,

On the formation of Gulfs.

950,

On the encroachments of the sea on the land and vice versa.

952,

953,

The ebb and flow of the tide.

955,

956,

957,

958,

959,

Theory of the circulation of the waters.

961,

Observations in support of the hypothesis.

963,

964,

965,

966,

967,

968,

On the way in which the sources of rivers are fed.

The tide in estuaries.

. . .