ICELAND. 



37 



The plain of the geysers was formerly a fiord, whose outlines may still be traced. 

 North of the Yestmann Isles not only have the fiords been effaced which at one 

 time penetrated far inland, but the alluvium washed down by the torrents has even 

 been carried seaward beyond the normal limits of the coast, where it has formed a 

 crescent-shaped delta 30 miles long. The distance separating the basaltic 



Fig. 16.— The SIakkarfljot Delta. 



Scile 1 : 750. oro. 



Depth tinder 55 

 Fathoms. 



IC Miles. 



Testm:mn Isles from the nearest rocky masses of the interior has thus been reduced 

 by one-half. It is remarkable that this delta, which might be taken for the 

 creation of a large river, stretching as it does in one direction towards the islands, 

 and in the other extending to the J^jorsa estuary, has been entirely produced by 

 a little rivulet called the Markarfljot. 



