THE GEYSERS, OR BOILING SPRINGS OF ICELAND. 
Iceland is an island situated in the Northern Ocean, amid regions of 
ice and snow ; yet it gives abundant evidence of the volcanic fires which 
are slumbering beneath its surface. Among the remarkable features of 
this interesting island, are its hot springs, which, in some places, throw 
up a column of water to the height of a hundred feet, accompanied by 
a tremendous noise. These springs abound in many parts of the coast, 
as well as in the interior of the island, and in some cases, the waters of 
the ocean are sensibly heated by their action. The most celebrated of 
these hot springs are the Geysers, situated in the north of the island, 
where within the space of a few acres more than fifty of them may be 
seen. Some emit hot water as clear as crystal; others send out hot 
vapours and troubled waters. 
The great Geyser, which has attracted most attention, rises from a 
mound of flinty earth, deposited by the water to the height of about 
thirty feet, and extending about two hundred feet across. On the top 
of this mound is the basin, sixty feet wide, and seven feet deep, in the 
centre of which is the pipe or opening through which the water rises. 
The basin and pipe are lined with the same flinty deposit, polished to 
great smoothness by the constant action of the water ; but on the out- 
side of the basin the deposit forms beautiful groups of crystals greatly 
resembling cauliflowers. Small eruptions of the Geyser take place every 
two or three hours, but the great eruption occurs only once in about 
thirty hours. This is preceded by a hollow rumbling sound, and many 
thundering explosions which cause the ground to quiver violently. Sud- 
denly a vast body of water rises with a fluctuating motion to the height 
of eighty or ninety feet, accompanied by a thick pillar of vapour. From 
the principal column smaller veins jet out to a much greater height, 
while others stream in arches from the cloud of vapour. Much of 
the beauty of the column is concealed by the steam, but when this 
is blown aside by the wind, the water appears shooting upwards in in- 
numerable rays, "spreading out at the top like a lofty pine, and de- 
scending in fine rain." The column often descends suddenly, as if its 
force were exhausted: but it again rises with renewed energy accom- 
panied by thunders rolling in the earth. The whole eruption continues 
about ten minutes. 
Some of these natural fountains play for a much longer time than 
the great Geyser, and also send their waters to such a height that 
they become dissipated in fine spray. The body of water is not so 
great, but the force of the eruption is quite as remarkable. Large 
stones thrown in for the amusement of travellers, are projected to such 
a height as to be nearly lost sight of ere they fall back again into the 
basin. The flinty matter which these springs deposit, causes the erup- 
tions to vary constantly in force and character, and in time destroys 
the spring by entirely choking up the tube from which the water 
rises. Immediately after an eruption, the water in the basin is near 
the boiling point, and lower down in the tube it is said to be forty 
degrees hotter than boiling water. These Geysers are supposed to be 
caused by the collection of heated vapours in large cavities of the earth, 
which at length acquire sufficient force to expel the waters subject to 
their pressure. The word Geyser signifies in the Icelandic dialect 
"fury." 
Thus amid the wildness and desolation of Icelandic scenery, the 
simple inhabitants have abundant opportunity of recognising hi these 
magnificent fountains, and in the awful grandeur of volcanoes, and 
volcanic remains, the constant presence and mighty power of their 
Creator. 
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SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. 
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