PEALE.] THERMAL SPRINGS OF SOUTH AMERICA. 329 



Dr. Nichols, who discovered tlie lake, gave a temperature of 19G° F. ; 

 Mr. Prestoe, of Trinidad, 180° to 190°, aud both found it boiliug; while 

 Mr. F. A. Ober found it quiet, with a temperature of only 90° F.* It 

 therefore appears that this is a true geyser, having periods of quiet. 

 Its eruptions must be on a grand scale, those already mentioned being 

 probably only the frequent explosions noted as so common in most 

 geysers during the intervals separating the true eruptions. 



THE PETITE SOUFRliiRE OF DOMUaCA, 



The Little Sulphur of Dominica is passed en route to the Boiling Lake 

 of the Grande Soufrik^e. It is about 2,000 feet above sea level, and its 

 largest spring is 5 feet in diameter, with a temperature of 208° F. The 

 locality is described as follows by Mr. F. A. Ober : t 



The basin was covered wifch rocks and earth, white and yellow, perforated like the 

 hottom of a colander, whence issued steam and vajior and sulphur fumes, hot air, and 

 fetid gases. There was a full head of steam on, puffing through these vents with the 

 noise of a dozen engines. There were spouting springs of hot water ; some were boil- 

 ing over the surface, some sending up a hot spray, some puffing like high-pressure 

 steamboats. Clouds of steam drifted across this small valley, now obsciiriug every 

 rock and hole, now lifting a few feet only to settle again. * * * Several streams 

 ran down and out, uaiting in a common torrent ; streams hot, impregnated with sul- 

 phur, streams cold, clear, and sparkling, only a yard ajpart ; water of all colors, from 

 blue and green to yellow and milk-white. 



SOUTH AMERICA. 



The entire western coast of South America is igneous, the Andes con- 

 tinuing southward the volcanic line of Mexico and Central America. 

 There are said to be thirty-seven active volcanoes known in South 

 America, and the gaps between are filled with cones that are now sup- 

 posed to be extinct, but which may become active in the future. 



In Peru and Ecuador terrific earthquakes and eruptions of mud and 

 water in torrents have been frequent. We find that thermal springs 

 are found from one end of the Andean chain to the other. Even Pata- 

 gonia has its hot springs. In Bolivia they are said to be innumerable. 

 In the Argentine EepubUc the springs are found either in the Andes or 

 near there, in the western part of the territory. The springs of Chili 

 and Ecuador are numerous, those of Chili being saline, sulphurous, and 

 calcareous, ranging in temperature from 50° F. to the boiling point. 

 The springs of Chili are almost all found at the foot of the Andes, or 

 on its slopes. The most noted locality is Chilian, although all have 

 been used for medicinal x)urposes more or less, and have facilities for 

 baths. As already noted, a line of volcanic action running through 

 Venezuela connects the Andes with the Caribbean line. The thermal 

 springs of Venezuela follow this line Irom the east to the west, the most 

 noted localities being Las Triucheras (described by Humboldt and long- 

 known), Onoto Mariara, anil that of the Quiva or Cuiva, near Coro. 

 The last is the most remarkable, containing about 40 caldrons, in which 

 water of all colors can be found, the temperatures ranging from 40° F. 

 to 150° F. 



Brazil has no known volcanoes, and her thermal springs are found in 

 the eastern part of the emj^ire, in connection with the coast mountain 

 ranges, not over 100 to 200 miles from the coast. They would therefore 

 seem to hold the same relation to the hot and boiling springs found in 



* Camps in the Caribbees, by Fred. A. Ober, Boston, 1880. 

 \lMcl., page GO. 



