Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-12-15

quire residence Of several months
The smokes in general, however, may
be classed as coming either from
craters or assures.
craters Are Active.
The craters are much less numerous
than the assures, but include some of
the largest and most active of the
vents. All of them are located in the
floor of the valley, not around the
edges. They average about 100 feet
in diameter. The rims are slightly
raised above the general level, show
ing that they were produced by ex-
plosive action, but the amount OF
material, in these crater rings is. In
general, very much less than enough
to fill the cavity. Within they are
perfectly conical pits, sloping down
into the throat at the bottom.
The steep sides. standing at the
critical angle, remind one Of the pits
which ant lions dig in the sand. In
deed, little imagination is required to
picture the old devil at the bottom
waiting to devour whatever slips over
the edge; for the sides are SO nearly
perpendicular that If one made the
first slip he could never get out again.
The smoke from these craters comes
out in such volume that often the hole
is completely filled and Its outlines
concealed, but by waiting few mo-
ments at the windward side one can,
usually see the inside Of the crater.
and sometimes for an instant catch q
glimpse Of the throat at the bottom
usually a perpendicular tube about
ten feet in diameter leading down into
the bowels Of the earth. On favorable
occasions one may see as much as so
feet below the surface Of the plain.
Much the greater part of the steam
in the valley comes to the surface.
not In these craters but through the
innumerable assures. There are read
lily seen to be two sets of these-bands
of marginal assures, several together,
running around the edge Of the valley
In parallel lines, and single central
assures, which crisscross the floor In
all directions.
The marginal assures stand open.
like great cracks in the surface, into
which one might fall unless careful.
Sometimes the assures were formed
merely by the cracking open Of the
ground, but often they are lines OF
faulting, one side standing higher
than the other. They are often steam
ing hot for long distances without a
break, and at intervals contain vents
from which issue some Of the biggest
smokes in the valley.
While the smoke from the craters
comes out quietly. In vast. rolling
clouds, that from the assures often liz
emitted under considerable pressure
roaring and kissing. II one losses
pebbles into the mouths of these
vents they are so buoyed up by tho
rising gases that they are either i'm.
mediately spewed out again or they
sink slowly down through the rising
steam like feathers settling to earth.
Such vents are the hottest places in
the valley; the gases from them do
not condense for several yards be.
yond the crifice.
Fantastic Mud Formations.
All of the vents, even the smallest,
whose fumes are too slight to be Wis.,
ible, incrust the mud in their vicinity
with copious deposits, giving the ad-
ianQnf Ornnnd q Fantastic
pearance. These incrustations take
on all colors imaginable and In many
places give rise to very beautiful
formations. The prevailing hues ara
perhaps those due to the gray and
green and yellow alums, which build
out curious crystalline structures
Stimulating lichens growing on the
ground.
Over large areas the ground has
been burned to bright red by the
heat. The variations in the Intensity
Of the color produced are extremely
beautiful, including, as they do. all
shades from orange and brick red to
bright cherry reds, puppies. and on
down to black, with occasional con-
trasting streaks of blue. This type OF
coloration is most pronounced In areas
originally occupied by small fumaroles
which have burned out. In places
the ground has the appearance OF
having been burned with fire for a
mile at stretch.
In the size Of the vents and the
quantity of smoke given off the VAL
ley Is SO far beyond other volcanic
districts that no other place can fog
a moment be compared with Il