ON SE1SMOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS. 05 



Arnessysla from Eangarsysla, which comprises the districts of Holt, 

 Land or Landsveit, Rangarvellir — the northern extremities of the two 

 latter embracmg the foot of Hekla — further to the east Hvolhreppur 

 and Fliotshlid; finally, on the sea coast, Landeyjar and Eyafjallasveit. 



The eai'thquake area of the Faxafloi lies on the west coast of 

 Iceland, and comprises the districts bordering on that bay with the 

 peninsula which forms the south-west corner of the island, terminat- 

 ing in Reykjanes, near which, in the sea, is the principal seat of volcanic 

 action here. In this area are B6rgarfjordr, Reykjavik and Krisuvik in 

 Guldbringasysla, which borders on Olfus in Arnessysla. 



The earthquake area of the Nordurland or North Country, com- 

 prises the whole northern coast of Iceland from Hunafldi eastwards, 

 and the centre of volcanic action here is the Myvatnsveit, the district 

 round the lake of Myvatn, where a number of craters exist. 



The north-west part of Iceland, which forms a peninsula con- 

 nected with the main island by a narrow neck, is rarely visited by 

 earthquakes, at least noteworthy ones, and the same is the case with, 

 the east coast. Nor are many earthquakes recorded from the central 

 part of the island or from the vast icebound, volcanic complex of 

 mountains called the Vatna Jokull, which fills up the south-east corner 

 of Iceland. The absence of more numerous fejords may, however, 

 be due to the desolate almost inaccessible character of the region. 



AD _ A List of Destructive Earthquakes in the Sudurland. 



1013 ' Great earthquakes.' No date or particular locality is indicated. II 



1151 No direct mention of an earthquake, but only that houses were destroyed 

 and people killed in connection with an eruption of a volcano in the interior, 

 theTrolladyngjur, literally the habitations of the gnomes, a name applied to 

 several mountains in Iceland. No particular locality or date is given. II 



1157 Earthquake in connection with eruption of Hekla, January 19. II 



1164 Earthquake in Grimsnes ; no date given. II 



1182 Earthquake; no date or locality indicated. II 



1211 Great earthquake, July 7 ; the locality is not particularly indicated, but it is 

 stated that on the day before there had been an eruption in the sea south of 

 Reykjanes, resulting in the formation of some new ' Eldeyjar ' or Fire 

 Islands. A group of islands of that name is still in existence. II 



1240 Great earthquake throughout the south country ; eruption off Reykjanes. 

 No date. I 



1294 Great and widespread earthquake in Fliotshlid and Rangarvellir ; connected 

 with an eruption of Hekla. No date is given. Ill 



1300 Several earthquakes about Christmas time through the south country, con- 

 temporaneously with an eruption of Hekla, which commenced July 10 and 

 lasted nearly 12 months. II 



1308 Great earthquake throughout the South Country. No date. II 



1311 Earthquake in the night between January 10 and 11. No particular locality 

 indicated, but it is stated that on January 25 there was an eruption in 

 the Austurjokulls. I 



1339 Severe earthquake throughout the South Country, May 22. It was felt 

 mostly in Skeid, Floi and Holt. Ill 



] 370 Earthquake in the South Country about Olfus. No date. II 



1389-90 Earthquake in the South Country; no particular place or date mentioned. 

 There were eruptions from Hekla, Trolladyugjar and Sidu Jokull. II 



1391 A great earthquake throughout the South Country, particularly in Grimsnes, 

 Olfus, and Floi. Ill 



1510 Earthquake at Skalholt, about 20 miles west of Hekla, in connection with 

 an eruption of the volcano on July 20. I 



1910. 



