KECENT VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS 303 



forms a series of ragged peaks, which surround a deep depression occu- 

 pied by a small lake. There is a tradition that this mountain formerly 

 had a conical summit, which was destro3^ed by an explosive eruption. 

 The present appearance of the mountain makes it extremely probable 

 that this tradition is based upon fact. Its outline closely resembles that 

 of Coseguina, and, as is well known, the latter was formerly capped by 

 a symmetrical cone, which was blown off in the explosive eruption of 

 1835. This was perhaps the most violent recorded eruption of this 

 character up to the time of the eruption of Krakotoa in 1883. Since 

 this final burst of activity Coseguina has remained perfectly quiet. The 

 volcano of Masaya, wliich erupted a flow of lava in 1858, is at present a 

 mountain of moderate liight, about 2,200 feet. It occupies the position, 

 however, of a mountain which may once have been very much higher. 

 The former volcanic peak occupying this position was destroyed, not by 

 an explosive eruption, but by engulfment. The peak now occupies a 

 depressed area, having an oval shape and reguhir outline, about 4 by 6 

 miles. It is located a little north of the center of this depression, the 

 northern portion of which its lavas have nearly filled, flowing out over 

 the edge at several points on the surrounding level country. The out- 

 lines of the depression, however, can be traced continuously with the 

 exception of these few breaks, where its rim has been overtopped by the 

 recent lava. It is nearly everywhere a vertical cliff, descending abruptly 

 from the level or rolling plain. The southern end of the depression, 

 which is not filled by the lavas of Masaya, is occupied by the waters of 

 lake Masaya. The lake has a crescentic form and is bordered on the 

 convex side by the vertical cliffs of the caldera wall rising 360 or more 

 feet above its surftice. On the concave side it is bordered by the gentle 

 slope of the lavas of Masaya. It appears almost certain, therefore, that 

 a portion of the volcanic plateau and perhaps a volcanic cone of consid- 

 erable hight have disappeared by engulfment ; but that a subsequent 

 eruption at the same point has partially filled the depression, building 

 up a new cone over the same vent, though not to so great a hight as the 

 former one. This new cone is Masaya. It has the rather low dome 

 shape characteristic of cones composed largely of lava flows, and is 

 broadly truncated by a double crater. A similar engulfment has occurred 

 south of Masaya, forming the present lake Apoya. The depression did 

 not coincide with a volcanic cone, but occurred on the northern side of 

 mount Catrina, a low ash cone, carrying down one side of the latter and 

 a portion of tlie adjacent plain. The depression is somewhat smaller 

 than the one occupied by the lake and volcano Masaya, being about 4 

 miles in its largest diameter and nearly circular. The depression is now 

 occupied by the waters of lake Apoya, which are 260 feet below the lowest 



