Barometer, 22.70; thermometer, 40°; elevation, 6,626 feet.
The valley is of triangular shape, with an obtuse
angle on the south side of the river, which runs parallel with its longer
side, and about three hundred yards from the foot of the range. At the
apex of the obtuse angle a stream 50 feet wide comes in from the south,
joining the main river in the midst of the valley, below its central point.
The mountain ridges on all sides are 1,500 feet in height, composed of
dark lava, in solid ledges, are heavily wooded, and very steep. Small groves
of timber also cover the highest points of the valley, which is a succession
of ridges, and of rounded knolls capped by springs, the intervening depressions
being rendered marshy by the overflow of their waters. The whole surface
of the basin, to an unknown depth, is a calcareous bed, deposited from
the springs. Near the head of the valley, immediately after crossing to
the south side of the river, we came to one of the geysers, which was at
the time throwing water, with a loud hissing sound, to the height of 125
feet. In a few minutes the eruption ceased, and we were enabled to approach
the crater. This had originally been a crack or fissure in the calcareous
ledge, the seam of which could be traced by minute vents a distance of
60 feet, but was now closed up by deposits from the water to an opening
7 feet long by 3 feet wide in the center, from which the steam escaped
with a loud, rushing sound. The hillock formed by the spring is 40
feet in height, and its base covers about four acres. Near the crater,
and as far as its irruptive waters reach, the character of the deposit
is very peculiar. Close around the opening are built up walls, 8 feet in
height, of spherical nodules, from 6 inches to 3 feet in diameter. These,
in turn, are covered on the surface with minute globules of calcareous
stalagmite, incrusted with a thin glazing of silica. The rock, at a distance,
appears the color of ashes of roses, but near at hand shows a metallic
gray, with pink and yellow margins of the utmost delicacy. Being constantly
wet, the colors are brilliant beyond description. Sloping gently from this
rim of the crater in every direction, the rocks are full of cavities, in
successive terraces, forming little pools, with margins of silica the color
of silver, the cavities being irregular shape, constantly full of hot water,
and precipitating delicate coral-like beads of a bright saffron. These
cavities are also fringed with rock around the edges, in Go
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