192 THORODDSEN 



The coast of Iceland is upon three of its sides indented by 

 fjords and bays, while the south coast is almost wanting in inden- 

 tations fjords, harbours, etc.; the coast-line is best developed to- 

 wards the north-west, where a peninsula with many fjords projects 

 from the main land. The coast-line of Iceland is about 6000 km. in 

 length, of which one-third belongs to the north-western peninsula. 

 The indentations of the coast may be divided, according to their 

 origin and size, into two groups, the large bays which are probably 

 formed by the sinking of the earth's crust, and the fjords proper 

 which appear to owe their origin chiefly to erosion. Along the south 

 coast the great Jokulls (snowfields) descend toward the sea and the 

 masses of gravel carried down from the glaciers have, in the course 

 of time, filled up all the fjords, causing the sea outside the fjords to 

 be so shallow that it is dangerous for vessels to approach the coast. 

 The breakers throw up bars of coarse shingle which dam the waters 

 of the numerous glacier-rivers, and so shoals and shifting lagoons 

 are common along this coast; the largest of them are to be found 

 towards the south-east (Alftafjorflur, Papos and Hornafjor5uij. In 

 the western part of the south coast the fjords and bays of olden 

 times have been filled up not only with the sediments of glacier- 

 rivers, but also with great lava-streams. From the west two large 

 bays, FaxafjorSur and Brei5ifjor5ur, extend inwards, they are separ- 

 ated by the mountainous and volcanic Snaefellsnes. The former of 

 these bays is 68 km. in length and 90 km. in breadth, the latter 

 124 km. in length and 74 km. in breadth; from them several small 

 fjords extend inwards, especially from BreiSifjorSur, which at its 

 head divides into two large arms, GilsfjorSur and Hvammsfjordur. 

 The north-western peninsula (VestfirSir), as mentioned above, is in- 

 dented by numerous fjords, and there are several excellent harbours, 

 trading-stations and fishing villages in those fjords which turn their 

 mouths towards the north-west; of these fjords the largest are Arnar- 

 fjor5ur and Isafjardardjup, both of which have many branch-fjords. 

 On the north coast there are also many large indentations which 

 are separated by mountainous peninsulas; of these bays and fjords 

 the following are the largest, proceeding from west to east: Huna- 

 floi, Skagafjor5ur, Eyjafjor5ur, Skjalfandi, Axarfjordur and Thistil- 

 fjor5ur; and from these larger bays several smaller fjords extend 

 further into the country. Of the peninsulas the following may be 

 mentioned: Skagi, Tjornes, Melrakkasljetta and Langanes; the two 

 large peninsulas on either side of Eyjafj6r5ur have no distinctive 



