196 18 



gen and carbon dioxide. The stones and pieces of rock which were around the 

 springs, and which come in contact with the spring water, were covered with a 

 thin shell of silicioussinter. 



Laugarasshyerir. 



The farm Laugards is situated on an elevated ridge 67 m. above sea-level. 

 A little to the west of the ridge, probably 50 m. above sea-level, most of the hot 

 springs are grouped together within a small space. The most important springs, 

 taken from north to south, are the following: — pvottahver, 96\ sample Laiigaràs 

 No. 1 ; Draugalwer, 100" and Sudiilmer, 98.5°, from which the sample Laugards 

 No. 2 is taken. 



Down by the river Hvi'ta, about 200 m. to the south of the springs, there are 

 also some smaller hot springs. The specimen Laiigaràs Nr. 3 is taken from the 

 most easterly spring of this group. The spring water in the above mentioned springs 

 is alkaline and contains chlorides and carbonates with traces of sulphates. In the 

 gases were found traces of sulphuretted hydrogen, but no carbon dioxide. There 

 were much smaller deposits of silicious sinter on the stones around the springs 

 here than at Grafarbakki. 



With regard to their outward appearance, these springs remind one very 

 much of the springs at Reykir and Grafarbakki, and many plants uncommon in 

 Iceland thrive exceedingly well in the warm soil around them. But the great heat 

 of the water hinders the growth of plants, however, in such close proximity to the 

 springs as is the case at Reykir in Skagafjörour. 



We remained three days at Laugaras, from the 8th. to 11th. August 1906. 



The hot springs at Reykjafoss in Ölfns. — Ölfushverir. 



We spent from the 12th. to the 16th. August here. These springs are by the 

 highway, and have therefore been more often visited than any other Icelandic 

 springs, with the exception of those at Stori Geysir. A good account of their topo- 

 graphy and history is given in l^. Thoroddsen's description in the "Geografisk 

 Tidsskrift"'. 



The best known spring at this place is Litli Geysir which has formerly 

 been a very strongly spouting-spring. When R. Bunsen visited Litli Geysir in 1846, 

 it spouted regularly at even intervals; but it has now quite ceased spouting. The 

 largest geyser at present is Grijla or Gnjta (Plate Vlll, b); it is situated 1km. to the 

 north of Reykjafoss. Gryla emits steam for a short period after an eruption, which 

 is quite unusual with Icelandic springs. 



Of the specimens of gases we examined in this spring district, there are 3 from 

 Hveragerôi, (Plate IX, a), to the west of Reykjafoss (25 m. over sea-level), viz. Reykja- 

 foss No. 1, from a basin with clear alkaline water, which contained chlorides and 



1 Geografisli Tidsskrift 17, 98, 1903-1904. 



