Under the influence of these conditions the remnant of the Scandinavian ice-sheet again decreased in size, until it split into two portions, the break occurring at Ragunda, and this is considered by Scandinavian geologists to mark the end of the Ice Age in Europe. Gunnar Andersson compares the climate of southern Sweden at this time to the Baraba Steppes in western Siberia, with an annual rainfall of 12 to 16 inches, but this seems an extreme estimate. The “Karst” flora of the limestone areas of south-east Europe immigrated into eastern Sweden during this period, and south-east Europe probably gives a better idea of the climate of Sweden during the continental phase. Farther east, in Finland, Kupffer describes the climate as resembling that of central Russia. In central Germany the climate was dry, with a mean temperature in the four summer months of 63° F.; it resembled that of south-west Russia. This period of warm summers began earlier in Germany than in Sweden, and throughout this phase Scandinavia was occupied by a rich forest flora. The hazel extended several degrees north of its present position, and to higher levels, indicating a July temperature about 7° F. higher than the present. In southern Norway the pine extended to much greater heights. But the ivy and yew, whose limits depend on the winter rather than on the summer temperature, showed no such extension, indicating that the winters remained severe. In Denmark there was a dry climate, fairly warm at the close, with fir forests, though western Denmark is now too wet for this tree. On the coast of Norway the seas were still cold, so that there is a contrast between the animal life of the sea and the plant life of the land. The Alps also became warm and dry, and were occupied by a xerophilous flora. As the glacial anticyclone decreased in intensity, depressions from the Atlantic began to take a more northerly course, but were held up near the British Isles and materially increased the rainfall. This is the first peat-bog period of these islands, when the birch and pine forests which had covered the non-glaciated lands during the cold dry period gave way to extensive growths of peat-bogs. Southern and eastern England, however, largely escaped this damp period, sharing in the dry climate of the Continent. The absence of storms off the north-west coast of Norway is shown by the forests which at this period covered all the outermost islands of Norway as far as Ingo Island, off North Cape. These islands are now barren, and their afforestation indicates a drier and especially a less stormy climate than the present, with a decreased frequency of winds from the sea. These conditions were well developed about 5000 B.C. This is the Early Neolithic period. Owing to the great development of forests, this period is sometimes called the _Early Forest period_.