The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-02-18
Natures Wonders

WORTH, Wnlle There are seventy tunes
seven Of natural wonders IN every
country of any great extent. Mans
handwork, however elaborate, sinks
into insignificance when compared
with what we MAY see in any part of
the world. Vast caves, mighty rivers
and lofty mountains vie with gorges,
cataracts, plains and forests, in extort-
ing admiration and awe, and library
might be filled with description of
the natural curiosities of single
State.
In Arizona, there is an area in which
thirty-five hundred volcanoes may be
counted. The majority are extinct,
but hundreds are active, emitting
smoke, hot water, mud and mineral
substances.
From the sides of the hills, grouped
in an immense ampitheatre, come
forth most beautiful springs of clear,
warm weather-some SO sour, others
so sweet, so bitter and so strongly
alkaline, that no living being or ami
man can drink it. These waters
course down the hillsides, laying a
coat of white, pink, purple, blue or
green, made by the mineral salts they
contain, upon everything with which
they come in contact.
In the midst of these hills is the
Lake of Ink. There run into it scores
of streams of clear, mineral, hot
water; others that are warm, and two
that are cold.
The lake, one-fourth of mile in
length and one-eighth in width, lies
like a gem, set in these hills or these
ancient volcanoes. The ink-like water
which fills the lake, comes up to with
in three or four inches of the level of
it's shores.
The temperature near the edge is
about ITO degrees, gradually growing
warmer as you get down in it, and, as
you approach the center of the lake,
on the surface it is 1876 degrees, and at
depth of $50 feet it is ZIG degrees.
Near the shore on the east, south,
and west sides the water is only four
to six feet in depth for 20 or more feet
into the lake, where the shelf breaks
off perpendicularly, and there no bot
TON, hoe avov hQor1 found
To the touch, the water feels smooth
and oily The ashes and soil which
cover the lake when its waters are
quiet, are from one-half an inch to an
inch thick. The water of the lake is
jet black, though it does not color the
skin of those who battle in it.
Under a glass the coloring matter
seems to be minute black substance,
held in suspension by the water, which
adheres to white cloth immersed in
the lake. To the taste, the water is
warm, salt and bitter. To the bather,
the sensation, on entering the water,
is exhilarating to wonderful degree.
Millions of bubbles, formed by
escaping gases, KEEP the surface of the
lake agitated at all times, till it rolls,
boils and foams, as if ready to break
over it's banks and escape; and again,
only in myriads of sparkling globules,
glittering in the sunlight. Whenever
the VOLCANOES rage with anger, the lake
follows, and the sight of its maddened
waters is well worth seeing.
In Lassen county, California, is a
spot called Dry Lake, which is in re-
ality almost an arid plane, with sine
alkali scattered here and there over it,
and it's area is two and half by four
miles. On one side are the Pit River
Mountains and on the other are big
pine woods, while to the west are the
famous lava bed sin which the In
dams hid during that last great Cali
fornia struggle with the savages. A
winding road leads up from the val
ley below into the curious basin.
If horse walks on this road any
where, even two or three miles outside
the border of the Dry Lake it can be
heard for many miles up in the inter-
ior The ground all about there sends
forth hollow sound. Reverberations
can be heard anywhere. A football
may be heard like sound in great
cavern.
The most singular plateuau in the
world is the island of Papua. The
plateau is elevated 5000 feet above
the sea, and there are SUBMITS tower
ing 5000 feet higher, but the close
proximity of the equator has covered
the great plain with luxuriant vegeta-
ton. The climate is perpetual May,
birds sing in every bush and the only