316 Volcanic Island of Jan May en, 



ted to the north of Spitzbergen, beyond the 80th degree of 

 latitude, may not be formed of volcanic materials.* 



16. Volcanic Island of Jan May en. — But all these foci of 

 eruption appear to be extinguished at the present time ; and it 

 is in the island of Jan Mayen. situated in the 71st degree of 

 north latitude, that we find the nearest volcano to the pole. May 

 we be permitted to express the hope that the expedition will 

 include this remarkable island within the circle of its investi- 

 gations. 



According to Captain Scoresby, the island of Jan Mayen is 

 very much elongated from SW. to NE. Its length is ten 

 leagues ; its breadth three leagues. It increases in breadth at 

 its NE. extremity, which presents the form of a lozenge, ha- 

 ving each of its sides about three leagues in length. This space 

 forms ihe base of the remarkable mountain called the Beeren- 

 berg (Bear Mountain). The SW. part of the island is joined 

 to the NW. part by a narrow isthmus, and is itself very much 

 elongated, whilst its breadth varies from one to five miles. 



The object which particularly strikes the attention, on ap- 

 proaching the island, is the pointed peak of the Beerenberg, 

 rising to an elevation of 6870 feet above the sea. It appears 

 placed on a base, which is itself hilly, and rises to a mean height 

 of 1500 feet. 



Three places in this island, called Wood Bay^ Great Wood 

 Bay^ and Little Wood Bay., received their names from the great 

 quantity of pieces of decayed wood which are found there. 

 These woods, whether floated thither or fossil, will give rise to 

 the same questions as in Spitzbergen. 



Captain Scoresby, having landed in Jameson's Bay, remarked 

 indications of volcanic eruptions. We observed, says he, at 

 every step fragments of lava ; he also mentions trap-rocks and 

 cellular basalt, with crystals of augite, ashes, scoriae, vesicular 

 lavas, and burnt clays. A hill, Esk Mount, 1500 feet high, 

 which he ascended, presented a beautiful circular crater from 

 500 feet to 600 feet deep. 



Another analogous crater was seen to the SW. of the first 



* Low Island is composed of transition rocks. Vide " Parry's Attempt 

 to reach the North Pole," p. 22n.~-Edit. 



