92 



THE POLAR WORLD. 



THINGVALLA, LOGBERG, AND ALMANNAGJA. 



around, and embosomed in a wide circle of black precipitous hills, the situation 

 of Thingvalla is extremely romantic, but the naked dark-colored rocks, and the 

 traces of subterranean fire visible on every side, impart a stern melancholy to 

 the scene. The lake, the largest sheet of water in the island, is about thirty 

 miles in circumference ; its boundaries have undergone many changes, especial- 

 ly during the earthquakes of the past century, when its northern margin col- 

 lapsed, while the opposite one was raised. The depth of its crystal waters is 

 very great, and in its centre rise two small crater-islands, the result of some un- 

 known eruption. The mountains on its south bank have a picturesque appear- 

 ance, and large volumes of steam issuing from several hot sources on their 

 sides prove that, though all be tranquil now, the volcanic fires are not extinct. 

 Only a few traces of the ancient Althing are left — three small mounds, where 

 sat in state the chiefs and judges of the land — for as the assembly used to pitch 

 their tents on the borders of the stream, and the deliberations were held in the 

 open air, there are no imposing ruins to bear witness to a glorious past. But 

 though all architectural pomp be absent, the scene hallowed by the recollections 

 of a thousand years is one of deep interest to the traveller. The great features 

 of nature are the same as when the freemen of Iceland assembled to settle the 

 affairs of their little world ; but the raven now croaks where the orator appealed 

 to the reason or the passions of his audience, and the sheep of the neighboring 

 pastor crop undisturbed the grass of desecrated Thingvalla. 



Mr. Ross Browne thus describes the scene : After a slight repast 1 walked 

 out to take a look at the Logberg, or Rock of Laws, w^hich is situated about 



