On issuing from this ravine, the lava flowed into a deep
lake which lay in the course of the river. Here it was arrested for a
while; but it ultimately filled the bed of the lake altogether--either
drying up its waters, or chasing them before it into the lower part of
the river's course. Still forced onward by the accumulation of molten
lava from behind, the stream resumed its advance, till it reached
some ancient volcanic rocks which were full of caverns. Into these it
entered, and where it could not eat its way by melting the old rock,
it forced a passage by shivering the solid mass and throwing its broken
fragments into the air to a height of 150 feet.
A TORRENT OF LAVA
On the 18th of June there opened above the first mouth a second of large
dimensions, whence poured another immense torrent of lava, which flowed
with great rapidity over the solidified surface of the first stream, and
ultimately combined with it to form a more formidable main current. When
this fresh stream reached the fiery lake, which had filled the lower
portion of the valley of the Skapta, a portion of it was forced up the
channel of that river towards the foot of the hill whence it takes its
rise. After pursuing its course for several days, the main body of this
stream reached the edge of a great waterfall called Stapafoss, which
plunged into a deep abyss. Displacing the water, the lava here leaped
over the precipice, and formed a great cataract of fire. After this, it
filled the channel of the river, though extending itself in breadth far
beyond it, and followed it until it reached the sea.
Pages:
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323