Iceland 1930

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1830571079

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-221162

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Iceland 1930

Edition:: 2. ed.

Place of publication:: Reykjavík

Publisher:: Ríkisprentsmiđjan Gutenberg

Year of publication:: 1930

Scope:: 193 S.; Tab., Kt., Taf.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

Usage license:: Get license information via the feedback formular.

Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Geographical sketch

Collection:: Economics Books

over the country, sometimes singly, but more frequently in groups, along lissures in the earth's crust. In and near the volcanic zone there is a considerable number of Solfataras and Mudvolcanoes, the fumes from which consist mainly of sulphuretted hydrogen, hydrogen, and carbonic acid gas. But in other places of the country the hot springs are mostly alkaline, the chief constituent of the (spring) gases being nitrogen. Most hot springs keep the same temperature all the year round irre- spective of the weather conditions. But all hot springs are not equally hot, the temperature varying from 10° C. to boiling point. No springs show more than 100° C. on the surface, while at the bottom of a deep well the heat may rise even to 120° C, Some of the hot springs in Iceland are intermittently eruptive, the best known being the Stéri Gepsir (i. e. the Great Geysir) in Hauka- dal (Hawksdale) in the south. Its eruptions have been very unequal in height, the highest yet known measuring 67 metres. At present the most powerful hot springs in Iceland are Nordurhver (Northspring) in Repkjahverfi (Reekie-Parish) in Thingeyjar district, throwing jets to a height of 11 metres; Smidur and Otherrishola (Wet-weather Hole) near Stéri Gevsir and Grila in Olfus. EARTHQUAKES Earthquakes (jardskjélftar) are frequent in Iceland, especially in the south-western and north-eastern parts of the country, and have at limes done a great amount of damage to property. As late as 1896 an earthquake, confined to the lowlands in the south, destroyed a great number of farm-houses. LAKES AND RIVERS Though there are a great many rivers in Iceland and some of them have a considerable volume of water, yet none are navigable on ac- count of their swift currents. Such rivers as are fed by glaciers are whitish-grey in colour, because they carry with them a large quantity of mineral dust, eroded by the glaciers from the rocks on which they vest. This water, charged as it is with minerals, has proved useful for irrigation purposes. In many of the rivers, where they leave the high- lands, there are lofty falls, the best known being the Gulifoss (The Goldforce) in the Hwiti (Whitewater) in the south, and Dettifoss in the Jokulsi in AxarfjorBur (Axefirth). In the spring thaws the waters in the rivers increase greatly, and the rushing streams carry with them quantities of gravel and loose stones. which. when the rivers quiet

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: Iceland 1930

Monograph

Chapter

Table of contents

Download

Monograph

Chapter

This page

Image fragment

Citation links

Citation recommendation