. The Arctic world: its plants, animals and natural phenomena [microform] : with a historical sketch of Arctic discovery down to the British Polar Expedition: 1875-76. British Polar Expedition, 1875-76; British Polar Expedition, 1875-76; Zoology; Zoologie. 164 A CIRCLE OF ICE. We liave spoken of the two ranges of table-lands as about ninety to one hundred miles apart. The interspace forms a losv broad valley, whirh opens at either extremity on the sea—an awful waste, a region of desolation, where man is utterly powerless; where the elements of fire and frost maintain a perpetual ;
. The Arctic world: its plants, animals and natural phenomena [microform] : with a historical sketch of Arctic discovery down to the British Polar Expedition: 1875-76. British Polar Expedition, 1875-76; British Polar Expedition, 1875-76; Zoology; Zoologie. 164 A CIRCLE OF ICE. We liave spoken of the two ranges of table-lands as about ninety to one hundred miles apart. The interspace forms a losv broad valley, whirh opens at either extremity on the sea—an awful waste, a region of desolation, where man is utterly powerless; where the elements of fire and frost maintain a perpetual ; where blade of grass is never seen, nor drop of water ; where bird never wings its way, and no sign of life can be detected. It seems a realization of Dante's "circle of ice" in the "; The surface consists of lava streams, fissured by inimmerable crevices; of rocks piled on rocks; of dreary glaciers, relieved by low volcanic cones. It is supposed that some remote portions of the inaccessible interior ai-e less barren, because herds of reindeer have been seen feeding on the Iceland moss that fringes the bordora of this dreary legion. But there is no reason to believe that it can ever be inhabited by man. M. UOUNT , FROM TUB VALLKV OK IIKVITA. The extremities of the valleys, where they approach the ocean, are the principal theatres of volcanic activity. At the southern end the best-known volcano is that of Hekla, wliich has attiiined a sinister repute from the terrific character of its eruptions. Of these six-andtwenty are recorded, tiie last having occurred in 1845-4G. One lasted for six yeare, spreading devasta- tion over a country which hatl formerly been the seat of a prosperous colony, burying the fields beneath a flood of lava, scorite, and ii-shes. During the eruption of September 2, 1845, to Apiil 184G, three new craters were formed, from which columns of fire sprang to the height of 14,000 feet. The lava accuumlated in formidable hill
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1876
