The Spheroidal Form of the Earth 31 Flattening of the Poles. The Surface of the Earth. The Threefold Covering of the Earth 34 The Atmosphere. Depth of the Sea. The Interior of the Earth. The Superficial Dimensions of the Land and Water on the Globe 39 Water and Land. Area of the Earth. Contrast of the Land and Water Hemispheres 41 Continents and Islands. Contrast of the Hemispheres. The great Coast-belt. Historical Contrast. The Position of the Continents and its Influence on the Course of History 46 Structure and Architectural Relations of the Continents. The Pyramidal Forms of the Great Land-Masses, and their Southward direction toward the Oceanic Hemisphere 48 Pyramidal Structure. Hypothesis as to its Origin. Surface of the Moon. Situation of the Continents in their Relation to each other, and to their Collective Whole 51 Continents. Submarine Volcanic Connection. Arctic Polar Lands. The Polar World. America. Australia. The Historical Element in Geographical Science 58 Matter and Spirit. Steam Navigation. Europe’s advantageous Position. Natural Endowment of the Various Continents. Perfectability of the Earth. The Oldest Homes of Culture. PART SECOND. A more extended Investigation regarding the Earth’s Surface 69 Plains. Relative and absolute Heights. Highlands and Lowlands. Lands of Transition. Highlands 73 General Remarks. Highlands or Plateaus of the First Class 74 The Asiatic Plateaus. The African Highland. The American Plateaus. Plateaus of the Second Class 80 Lower Asiatic Plateaus. Lower African Plateaus. Lower American Plateaus. Lower European Plateaus. Use and Misuse of the word Plateau. Limits of the Lower Plateaus. Mountains and Mountain Lands 89 Mountains and Plateaus. Height of Mountains. Size of Mountains. Linear Elevation. Mountain Systems. Divisions of Mountains. Mountain Chains. Serrated Ranges. Peaks and Passes. Ranges of Demarkation. Superimposed Mountains. Independent Mountain Systems. The Relations of Plateau Systems 104 Geological Differences between Plateaus. The Continents with their respective Plateaus. Primeval Formation of Plateaus and Mountains 107 General Remarks. Origin of Plateaus 107 Intumescence of the Earth. The great Plateau Circle.