BOGOSLOF, OUR NEWEST VOLCANO 



BY C. HART MERRIAM 



SMALL spot in Bering Sea about thirty miles 

 north of the island of Umnak and forty miles 

 west of the northern corner of Unalaska, has 

 been in recent years the seat of more violent 

 volcanic activity and has undergone greater changes of 

 form than any other part of North America. In this spot, 

 early in May, 1796, accompanied by thunder, earthquake, 

 and steam, a volcanic island was suddenly thrown up from 

 the depths of the sea; and again, no longer ago than the 

 summer of 1883, the waters were once more convulsed, 

 and, shrouded in steam and fog, a companion volcano was 

 born. 



OLD BOGOSLOF. 



The birth of the new volcano seems to have escaped 

 observation, but the terrific disturbances attending the 

 upheaval of old Bogoslof were witnessed not only by native 

 Aleuts on the islands of Umnak and Unalaska, but also by 

 the resident agent of the old Russian- American Company, 

 one Kriukof, who at the time chanced to be on the north- 

 ernmost part of Umnak. Kriukof told Kotzebue that 

 on May 7, 1796, a storm from the northwest cut off the 

 outlook seaward; that on the 8th, when the weather had 



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