Krug von Nidda on the Mineral Springs of Iceland. 91 



remarkable springs lie about six geographical miles north-east 

 from Hecla. The great plain, from which rises the slaggy and 

 isolated cone of Hecla, is the south-west opening of a large val- 

 ley, which is surrounded on both sides by high mountain pla- 

 teaus, and which traverses the island in its longest direction, 

 that from south-west to north-east. This plain is bounded to 

 the south by the Valley of the Markarfliot, over which is ele- 

 vated the ice-covered plateau of the Eyafiall-and Torfa-Jokul ; 

 to the north by the boundless ice-plains of the Bald and Eiriks- 

 Jokul; and to the south-west the country is open to the sea-shore. 

 A number of broad streams coining from the interiorof the island, 

 cut it in a south-western direction. Numerous volcanic cones, 

 chiefly of inconsiderable height, but at one time formidable from 

 the streams of lava which flowed from their summits, rise above 

 the plain. Further in the interior this great plain seems interrupt- 

 ed by some rocky hills, which are arranged in rows ; it is divided 

 into several flat valleys, whose prevailing north-eastern direction 

 is that of both the mountain plateaus. Thus, next to Hecla on 

 the north, is placed the broad Valley of Thiorsaae ; and then, 

 but separated from this last by low ranges of volcanic tufFa and 

 conglomerate rocks, the valleys, from which proceed the Hui- 

 taae and its lateral branches. These separate rocky ranges are 

 so inconsiderable in height and breadth, compared to the two 

 vast mountain plateaus to the south-east and north-west, that 

 they cannot obliterate the general character of one single great 

 longitudinal valley traversing the island through its centre. The 

 position on the summit of Hecla, placed about midway between 

 the two plateaus, has therefore a peculiar interest, as from it the 

 eye can penetrate far into the interior of the island. There we 

 can follow on both sides the long line of lofty ice-covered pla- 

 teaus ; and the great longitudinal valley which they enclose 

 seems only divided into ravines by the small rocky ranges. The 

 Haukadal, so celebrated for its geysers, and the numerous larger 

 and smaller hot springs in its neighbourhood, is the most nor- 

 thern ravine of this description at the base of the Bald-Jokul. 



Towards evening, on the 7th August, I arrived at the Hau- 

 kadal. Already at a great distance, clouds of steam indicated 

 the valley where these vast natural phenomena exist. My ex- 

 pectations were raised to the highest pitch, and the nearer I ap- 



