PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 229 



in origin; that is to say, they are due to movements and subsi- 

 dences of large tracts of land bounded by dislocations and fractures 

 of the ground. In North Iceland, between Skjiilfandi and Axar- 

 fjorflur, where the new volcanic tuff district extends to the coast, 

 violent earthquakes are frequent, especially in the neighbourhood 

 of the trading-station of Husavik. The earthquakes of 1755, 1872 

 and 1885 were especially serious and did great damage in these 

 districts. At Faxafloi there is another earthquake-area where minor 

 shocks are very common ; they are usually most violent on Reykja- 

 nes, especially in the neighbourhood of Krisuvik, and at the extreme 

 point of the peninsula, near the lighthouse. The third earthquake- 

 area comprises the southern lowland area between Reykjanes and 

 Eyjafjallajokull. This district has frequently suffered from violent 

 and destructive earthquakes which have caused great loss of human 

 life and of property. In modern times the earthquakes of 1784 and 

 1896 have been especially destructive. The former (Aug. 14--16) com- 

 pletely ruined 92 farmsteads, and damaged 372 houses and 11 

 churches. In August and September, 1896, the earthquake shocks 

 w r ere even more violent. Great chasms were rent in the earth, some 

 as long as 15 km.; watercourses were altered and the position of 

 hot springs changed; quantities of hugh fragments of rock were 

 loosened from the mountain-sides; 161 farmsteads were hurled down, 

 and 155 more were greatly damaged; in fact, every house in this 

 area sustained some damage. By each of these violent earthquake 

 shocks a limited tract of land was put in movement. Occasionally, 

 North Iceland has been shaken by volcanic eruptions which origi- 

 nated under the sea off the north coast of the island; this was the 

 case in the years 1838, 1899 and 1910. 







Hot alkaline springs occur in hundreds in Iceland, scattered 

 all over the country, sometimes singly, sometimes in groups. At the 

 present time 677 hot and boiling springs are known in 162 locali- 

 ties, and the majority of them are closely dependent upon the 

 fracture-systems of the island. Earthquakes exert great influence 

 upon these springs; many disappear or are altered, and new ones 

 are formed. The surfaces of the springs have any temperature up 

 to boiling point. Tepid springs which can be used for bathing are 

 called "laugar," boiling springs "hverar." Some of the latter throw 

 up jets of water as Geysir does; but otherwise the boiling springs 

 may be divided into five classes: (1) springs which are constantly 



