The sun., 1896-06-21
WoNDBkFUI roEbANDro FBArUnss.
On the Island Are Twenty Volcanoes Larger
than Vesuvius.

OD
On the Island Arc Twenty Volcanoes Larger
than Vesuvius.
Rrorr Ue Ledoer
Iceland offers such exceptional advantages
and opportunities to the sportsman, the tourist,
the naturalist, tho mountaneer, and the seeker
OF health, that, In no distant future, IL Is des-
tined to become the tourist field of Europe. The
glaciers Of Switzerland, the fjords, the salmon
rivers, and the midnight sun of Norway are all
there, and, moreover, the volcanoes Erottoes,
and eofataras OF Italy, on n Rrander scale; tho
pure and clear atmosphere OF Italy, the mineral
springs of Germany, and the Reysers or hot
springs, of the Yellowstone Park, nre all there
Nowhere has nature been spendthrift in ns-
scmbiing nonderful phenomena On one spot
Tho summer lasts from June till the fret
week In October. A feature noticed by all
travellers is the clearness and purity Of tho at
mosphcro. rivelling that OF Italy: mountains
are dis tnct Mt q distance of / 90 miles
There is no country in the known world where
volcanic eruptions have been 40 numerous as
in Iceland. or have been spread over 80 large
surface. No part of the isle Is wholly free from
the marks of volcanic agency; ard It may be
truly called the abode of subterrgnean heat.
vesuvius Is dwarfed into insignincance by the
twenty volcanoes of Iceland, all OF them larger.
Tho lava flood at tho eruption in Iceland in 1878
has been computed to contain 81, 900 millions
of cubic feet, while the largest eruption
OF Vesuvlus on record, that OF 1904,
threw out only 73O millions of cubic
feet of lava. Some OF tho 1celando lakes
are studded with volcanic isles. miniature
quescent Strombolis whose craters rise from
bases green with prolific growth of angelica
and grasses. Even In the bosom of the sea- of
the coast there are hidden volcanoes. About
the end Of January. 1888, flames were observed
rising from the some thirty miles OF Capo
Reykjanes; they lasted several months, until
terrible eruption commenced 200 miles away. In
ss ssn hs few ,S.
sea in this place. Another volcanic feature 10
the sofatara valleys. plains. studded with n
whose tops jets of ateam ascend. In other places
boiling mud issues from the ground ak 70 eight
the feeble crust where literally fire and brim-
stone are in incessnnt action, having before
beneath you. enveloped in vapors, your ears
stunned with noises, Is a strange sensation:
though not the most magnificent. are perhaps
the most curious among the numerous pho
%, ss IN OF the
different parts Of II. There Is number Of aper-
,u.ss IN Of platform Of rock The water
feet into the a,r river flows through the val
issues with violence from n rock raised but
few feet from tho 10y cold water of the river:
Not far from this place is tho grotto or cave o!
trH,sd to its inner end. In forming these scenes
Nature seems TO have deserted all her ordinary
ing tho most terrific extremes which her powers
can command. Nor IS she yet silent. After the
out among regions OF eternal snow. and the Inn
petuous laundering of the geysers continues to
Iceland is a wide field open for discovery. and
the country everywhere presents objects to fill
'He On Amy any part part Of the cusst one wl md ,nnu
merable gulls, elder ducks. &c In the interior,
wild ducks Gt93gse whtmbreis pl0yye55 5,b and
Here are the best stocked. unpreserved moors
in the n Tord twenty to thirty brace OF Gro9se
few hours. Besides, hero are swans, curlews,
and the chance of a shot at a reindeer.
A picturesque scene is the annual killing OF
black birds and auks, which nestle in the almost
Inaccessible rocks along the coast. Some OF
and ledges can only be visited by letting your
self down in line fastened on the top The
twisted together. strong enough to carry a man
The rock climber has q long suck in his
hand to balance himself: one of its two ends 10
an iron crook. the Other snare Of L"rsehhir to
eighty metres long and every oiim Der has two.
one OF which he pulls when he wishes TO be
nnes h Himself and 70 walks along .hg pcSR
eggs and killing birds. or course great dam
sharp edge projecting from the rock may cut
the liue. The cli Der may Inadvertently loosen
happy man is Invariably torn to pieces by
projecting ANGLES and edges in the rock before
he tnds his grave IN the merciful deep below.
Tho water OF the aerated springs in Iceland
possesses strong but grateful degree Of pun
gency, very much like tnat OF soda water after
It has been exposed TO tho air for few seconds.
The water is kept in constant and violent Agita-
tion by the escape Of carbonic acid gas. and.
taken In large quantities. NAV cause into1iea-
tion. The natives call these springs ale wells.
The accommodation in Iceland is not eQual to
that which the Land of the Midnight Sun aud
Switzerland give to the traveller. The only
hotels to be found are in the half a dozen towns
on the coast. In the interior ono must take
lodgings on q farm or camp out in tent IL
should not be omitted to state that tho only
mode OF conveyance 10 on horseback, on the
ponies which have been praised muchby
every traveller who has written upon Iceland.
Iceland has the same right as Norway 70 be
midnight sun can be seen in the north Of the
island. There is the difference that this seagtrt
land Of the Midnight Sun 10 uuexplored.