A NEW VOLCANO.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2253, 18 May 1881, Page 1

A NEW VOLCANO.

An interesting description of the volcano which recently made its appearance in the midst of Lake Ilopango, San Salvador, has been communicated to “La Nature ” by M. Laferriere, the French consul at San Salvador :—“ Seen at a distance the new crater which arose from the waters of the lake looks like a small island, yet it really rises to a height of at least 65ft above the surface of the water. An attempt has been made to approach it by a boat, but the waters in contact with the burning rook are in a state of ebullition, and give out clouds of steam. A great column of smoke ascends from it into the atmosphere, and spreads so as to have the aspect of an immense feathery cloud, which can be seed at a groat distance, and produces on the beholder a grand and imposing effect. Earthquakes wore felt in the Republic of San Salvador during the first half of the month of January, 1881. There were only three shocks; and they were less violent than those of 1876, not a single house being injured. These earthquakes bad their centre in the vicinity of Lake Ilopango, and in the middle of this rose the now volcano under consideration, and which consists of the united craters. The phenomenon was preceded by an exceptional increase of the lake, which was swollen by the copious rains of winter. According to an ancient tradition, the Spaniards assert that when the level of the lake rises, earthquakes are to bo expected. The water of this lake is brackish, very bitter, and almost viscid. It occasionally gives out hero and there bubbles of hydrosulphurio acid. The lake is no less than fifteen miles long by teu miles wide ; its depth is unknown. It is situated at about eight miles from Sin Salvador. According to a letter recently received from M. do Thoirsaut, the French consul at Guatemala, the waters of the lake are still at a temperature of 38deg. O. at the shores, and in lively eblluition around the volcano. All the fishes are completely boiled, and, with a largo number of molluscs and aquatic animals are floating on the surface. The mountain is continually rising, and the level of the lake is progressively lowering.”