From 'La Nouvelle Geographie universelle, la terre et les hommes', by Elisee Reclus.
Elisee Reclus (1830 - 1905) was a renowned French geographer, writer and anarchist. He produced his 19-volume masterwork 'La Nouvelle Geographie universelle, la terre et les hommes' over a period of nearly 20 years (1875-1894). In 1892 he was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal of the Paris Geographical Society for this work.