The population is chiefly established near the most con venient harbours, and where fish abound. Reikiavik is the principal place, and the seat of government. It has been chosen for the convenience of the harbour, and of the gravel beach, a thing of rare occurrence in Iceland. The country around is as bleak as can well be imagined.
It is impossible to travel many miles in Iceland without meeting the frightful effects of subterraneous fire. This miserable country has been exempted from the calamities of an eruption since the year 1783, at which time the most dreadful ever recorded took place. On the first of June of that year the southern districts were shaken by violent earthquakes. These continued, and were most alarming on the 8th, when smoke was seen rising among the mountains called Skapta Jokul. There appeared se veral eruptions from different spots, at considerable dis tances from each other. The showers of ashes and stones, the terrible noises, and the darkness in which the country was involved, foreboded an awful calamity. The large river Skaptaa was dried up, and the channels filled with liquid fire. Habitations were devoured, and the green pastures buried ; and the wretched inhabitants had the dismal prospect of being overwhelmed by the lava, or of perishing by famine. The lava was for a time retarded by its flowing into a lake ; but its progress was not stop ped, w hen a fresh eruption took place on the 18th of June. The lava having divided, and begun to move in various directions, the scene became more and more dreadful. On the 224 fresh eruptions broke out and continued multiply ing till the 13th of July. On the 20th, the lava towards the western side of the district of Skaptaa-fell ceased to flow. To the eastward, on the 3d of August, smoke was seen to rise from the mountain towards the north; the waters of the great river Ilversfliote were dried up, and on the 9th of August the lava approached by the channel of the river, overflowing in one evening an extent of miles. This eruption continued longer than the first ; and it is said that a fresh one happened in February 1784.
Mount Ilekla has been quiet for half a century. The volcanic fire appears to have .been most active in the south east and north-east districts, during the last century. Previous to the eruption of 1783, flames were seen rising from the sea, about 30 miles of Cape Reikiants, and se veral small islands appeared, which afterwards sunk, leav ing, however, a sunken reef, which renders the navigation round the Cape dangerous in thick weather. Similar phe nomena have appeared in other parts of the world ; the most recent being the eruption of St Michael% one of the Azores, which produced the island which was called Sabrina.
The greatest curiosities which Iceland presents are the springs of hot water, many of which are justly considered as among the greatest wonders of the world. They are, we believe, greatly more abundant in this than in any other volcanic country ; but the interest which the number and variety of these hot springs excites in a person who ne ver saw any thing similar is quickly lost, in the feelings which are roused on beholding the magnificent and tre mendous explosions of the Geysers. These extraordinary fountains are situate about sixteen miles north of Skalholt, on the east side of a small midge, separated from sonic high mountains by a narrow swamp. Besides the principal fountains, there are a great number of boiling springs, cavi ties full of hot water, and several from which steam issues. There are also some places full of boiling mud, grey and red.
The silicious depositions of the water of the Great Gey ser have formed for it a basin, 56 feet in diameter in one direction, and 46 in the other; a projection from one side causing the circumference to deviate from the perfect cir cle. In the centre of this basin is a cylindrical pipe or pit, ten feet in diameter. Through this pit the hot water rises, gradually filling it and the basin, after which it runs over in small quantities. At intervals of some hours, when the basin is full, explosions are heard from below, like the firing of cannon at a distance ; and at the same time a tremendous motion of the ground is felt around the basin. Immediately the water rises in a mass from the pit, and sinking again, causes the water in tne basin to be agitated and to overflow. Another and stronger:pro pulsion follows, and clouds of vapour ascend ; at length strong explosions take place, and large quantities of steam escaping, the water is thrown to a great height, generally from 30 to 90 feet. The steam corning in contact with the air is condensed into vapour, thick clouds of which are tossed and rolled one over another with great rapidity, the whole forming a very singular and magnificent exhibition. After continuing for some time, the explosions cease, when the basin and pipe are found empty. Bursts of steam sometimes take place when the water is rising, without any warning by subterraneous noise. These phenomena are caused evidently by the production and confinement of steam in cavities, so formed, that when the accumulation arrives at a certain point, the pressure of the water oppo sing its escape, is overcome, and the water is thrown out before it.