HUER, or HvEn, the Icelandic name for streams of heated water, which are forced with great violence through aper tures in the earth by internal causes, to a great height, in that wretched Island. Numerous as are the phenomena of na ture, there is none more capable of excit ing astonishment and admiration than the huer. These grand fountains far exceed the most celebrated attempts to rival them by many, very many fathoms, ex clusive of possessing the property Of in creasing their beautiful effect by the charge of steam in vast volumes, almost resembling fleecy clouds. The heat of the water of the different fountains varies considerably, the fluid flowing gently from some, and spouting upwards from others in an actual state of boiling. Those which have the properties of common springs, except in their heat, are called laug, or a bath ; the heat, though un equal, was never known to be less than 188 of Fahrenheit's thermometer, and Dr. Von Troil foifnd the water at Laugarnas 188, 191, and 193. At Geyser, Reykum, and Laugarvatn, 212.
It is not unusual to find the springs closed in some places, with others opened near them; and there are traces of huers without a drop of water in their vicinity. Olafsen asserts, that a hoer burst forth at Reikakio, in 1753, forty-two feet in breadth, eighteen in depth, and at three hundred in distance from a spring, which had been overwhelmed by a fall of the adjoining soil. Ttle water, thus impeded in its progress, oe&sioned convulsive mo tions in the earth, and loud explosions were heard by the inhabitants before the imprisoned stream obtained a vent.
The apertures, through which the wa' ter passes, are lined with an incrustation, which is most pure in those that emit it perpendicularly. This substance is said to work, is of a very fine grain, and will not effervesce with acids ; unfortunately, the circumstances that ex cite curiosity to examine these springs prevent its gratification, as it is impossible to explore their depths, or dig round them, without danger ; an opportunity occurred, however, at Laugarnas, where Dr. Von Troil had the satisfaction of ob serving the course of a spring through a bright gray clay, "the surface of which was covered with a white rind ; but was on the side nearest the clay quite smooth, and crisped on the, upper side. The vein flowed a good way under this crust, through a canal, formed of a similar mat ter, and the whole canal was filled with crystals,which had a very pleasing effect."
He was interrupted in his attempts to trace the further progrps of the water by its retirement to subterraneous passages, where, compressed by exhalations, and acquiring greater heat, it has forced a new course, and gushes out at an opening some distance from the first The water has a sulphurous taste, in some instances, when hot, but is exactly similar to common boiled water when cold. It is used by the inhabitants for dying, and might be applied to many pur poses with great advantage, as victuals may be dressed by its heat, merely by placing the meat in a covered vessel, im mersed in common water, and that in the boiling fluid; they have indeed evaporat ed sea water over h, and made excellent fine salt; and the cows which drink from the stream after it has cooled are said to give great quantities of good milk. Olaf sen says, that syrup of violets will not change its colour, and that alkali has no effect when thrown into it. There cannot be a doubt, that the beat of these springs and fountains is derived from the volca noes of the island, but for obvious reasons they are seldom found very near them ; they are common throughout the coun try, in the vallies between mountains, and even the summits of the ice mountains have their huers, particularly Torfa Jack ed, which abounds with hot springs, and two send their water to a great height ; besides those, there is a lukewarm spring near Haadegis Hunk, on Gueland's Jock ul, at the base of the mountain, with nu merous marks of closed liners. The influ ence which urges this heated water up wards is so considerable, as to force it in that state through the cold medium of the sea, the steam accompanying it floating from the place, and pointing out the situa tion of the spring. Dr. Von Troll enume rates many separate huers and fountains, which he visited in different parts of the island; amongst those the valley of Reyk halts contains the greatest number. This vale is two miles and a half in breadth, and the steam arising from it is conspicu ous for several miles, producing an ap pearance exactly similar to the smoke as cending from a volcano. The huers at Oelves are supposed to be the largest in Iceland; and the most remarkable arc Geyser and Badstofn ; there is one at this place which emits vapour only, but so very hot, that water may be boiled by hold ing it above the steam a few minutes.