102 THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA 



J). "Water-springs in the Earth — Funnels or Wells of the Jura— 

 The A veil of the South of France — Katavotron — Sinkholes — 

 Geysers — Submarine Springs — Origin of Oolitic Formations. 



Water spread on the earth penetrates to a certain 

 distance below the surface. It sinks through sandy 

 places, cultivated lands of all kinds, and even through 

 the hardest rocks. Fissures are produced in the 

 latter by the influence of temperature, and by these 

 little channels the water descends into the interior of 

 the earth's crust. Limestones favour a cavernous 

 structure, and conceal gulfs or pits which are known 

 by different names in different countries. These are the 

 Funnels or Wells of the Jura, the Sinkholes of America, 

 the Katavotron of Greece, and the Aveu of the South 

 of France. Such gulfs may sometimes be found in 

 the course of rivers. In a word, by whatever means 

 of absorption, the water finds its way into the ter- 

 restrial crust, and that to a very considerable extent. 

 After an interval, more or less prolonged, it returns 

 to the surface. Springs, fountains, artesian- wells, 

 geysers, are thus originated. Geysers are intermittent 

 springs of boiling water, observed for the first time 

 in Iceland, where the phenomenon is attended by 

 remarkable circumstances.* 



The return of the water to the surface takes place 



* See " Iceland : its Scenes and Sagas," by S. Baring-Gould. 



