The copper era and Morenci leader., 1919-01-03
MI. KATMAYS DEEP ABYSS
Great Alaskan Volcano and It's Steam ing Valleys Proclaimed a National Monument.
INITs EXPLOSIVE ERUPTION
, Smokes" the Beginning of a New
 Geyser Field Like YelloWstone's.


 At the end of September last Presi- dent Wilson created by proclamation the Katmai National Monument. This reservation incloses what the eXplo- sive eruption of June, 1912, left of Mount Katmai, on the southern shore of Alaska, together with several neighboring valleys of steaming vents the largest of which the National Geo. graphic Society, which explored it in June, 1917, named the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes"
 The two features are intimately re- lated. Rock strata superheated since the great eruption underlie Katmai near enough to the surface to turn to instant steam the spring and drain age waters of many a surrounding mile of foothills. Thus originates ths steam which bursts from the myriad valley vents. The phenomenon is familiar in the neighborhood of most volcanies which still are classed as siCIANS- oISdlulllS SpTlHSS, d ldCSr stage of the vents in this valley, are found upon the Hanks of several of the most prominent of our Cascade volcanoes, and are numerous around the base of Lassen Peak
 The comparison, however, between Katmai's steaming valleys and the geyser basins of Yellowstone is espe- cially instructive because Yellow stones basins once were what Kat mafs steaming valleys are now The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is probably coming geyser field of enormous size. The explanation is now generally accepted, presupposes a column of water filling the geyser vent above a deep rock superheated chamber in which trickling water is being rapidly turned into steam. When this steam becomes plentiful enough and sufficiently compressed to overcome the weight of the water in the vent, it suddenly expands and
 
 makes the geyser play.
 Growth of a Geyser Basin.
 Now, the difference between the Yellowstone geyser fields and Kat mai's steaming valleys is just a difference in temperature. The en- tire depth of earth under these val leys is heated far above boiling point, so that it is not possible fer water to remain in the vents; it turns to steam as fast as it collects and rushes out at the top in continuous flow But when centuries or hundreds of centuries enough telapse for the rocks between the surface and the deep internal pockets to cool, the water will remain in many vents as water until, at regular intervals, enough steam gathers below to hurl it out. Then these valleys will become basins of geysers and hot springs like Vel lowstCne's.
 The crater of Katmai is very large Its circumference, says Robert (TT1SSS, WnO hOduOu 'hS NApNN'ANAS-N which explored the entire area, is S. i miles, measured along the highes ] point of the rim. 'The area is A. miles, The precipitous abyss, whicf
 does not extend to the rim of thF | southwest side, is somewhat shorter measuring 26 miles in length, 7.t miles in circumference, and A., | square miles in area. The milky blu'
 lake at the bottom is IA miles Ion! and nine-tenths of a mile wide, witt
 an area of II square miles. Th' Il little crescent-shaned island in tn } lake measures 400 feet from point t point. The precipice from the lak to the highest point of the rim i 3,7OO feet. {. MT Griggs estimates the caracit, of the hole at 4,5O0, 100000 cubic yard If this hole were filled with watel s there would be enough to supply NeN York City for 1885 days. The grea I eruption blew out 11,000,000, 900 cubi 5 yards of material more than fort $ times the amount removed in the coI ! struction of the Panama canal.