THE NEW GREEK ISLAND.

Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 523, 20 July 1866, Page 2

THE NEW GREEK ISLAND.

(From the 7Vme* Athens Correspondent.) A new island began to rise above the level of the sea in the Bay of Thera (Stantorin) on the 4th February, and in five days it attained the height of from 130 feet to 150 feet, with a length of upwards of 350 feet, aud a breath of 100 feet. It continues to increase, and consists of a rusty black metallic lava, very heavy, and resembling half melted scoria which has boiled up from a furnace. It contains many small witish semi trans- 1 parent particles disseminated through the mass like quartz or felspar. The shape of Stantorin on the map gives an idea of its volcanic formation. It appears to be the eastern half of au j immense crater, stretching in a semi-circle round a bay in which the sea now cover the seat of volcanic action. The destruction of the south-western aim of the crater let in the water. The north-western portion is the island of Theresa. The bay is about six geographical miles long, and upwards of four broad. Near the centre there are three islands which have risen from the sea during eruptions recorded in history — Palia, Nea, and Mikre Kaiinene, or Old, New, and Litile Burnt (Island), naming them in their order from west to east. The present eruption commenced on the 31st of January. A noise like volleys of artillery was heard, but without any earthquake. On the following day flames issued from the sea, in a part of the bay called Vulkanos, where the water is always discolored and impregnated with sulphur from abundant springs at the bottom. The flames rose at intervals to the height of 15 feet, and were seen at times to issue from the south-western part of Nea Kaimeue. The island was soon rent by a deep fissure, and the sou- 1 them part sank considerably. On the 4th of February the eruptions became more violent and the sea more disturbed. Gras forced itself up from the depths with a terrific noise, resembling the bursting of a steam boiler ; flames rose at intervals, and white smoke, rising steadily, formed an immense column, crowned with a curled capital of dark heavy clouds. The new island was visible next morning, increasing sensibly to the eye as it rose out of the sea at no great distance to the south of Nea Kamene. The new island has been visited by Dr Dekigalla, a man of science and an able j observer, who will record accurately all i

! the phenomena of the present eruption *s it proceeds. The heat of the sea rose from 62 Fahrenheit to 122, as near the ! vicinity of volcanic action as it was safe ■to approach. The bottom of the sea all [round Nea Kaimene appears to have risen greatly. In one place, where the ; depth is marked on the Admiralty chart | 100 fathoms, it was found to be now only i 30, and another where it was 17 it is now j only 3 fathoms. The new island, as itj increases, will probably form a junction. i with Nea Kaimene. It grows, as is were, out of the sea, the mass below pushing upwards that which is already above wrter. The lower part is hot, iz< fissures where they are deep being 170 Fahrenheit, and the upper part after four day's exposure, was found to be still SQ. At present the centre of the volcanic J force lies evidently far below the bottom j of the sea, and only gasses aud smoke j work their" way through the incumbent j earth to the water, and escape in noise, flames, and smoke to the surface. But should a fissure at the bottom of the sea allow the water to penetrate the fires that throw up the melted metal of the new island to the surface, an eruption may take place of a kind similar to that which destroyed Ponipei, but far more terrible. The eruption that formed the present island of Nea Kaimene began in the year 1707, and the volcauic action .-ontinued. without doing any serious injury to the inhabitants of The™, until 1713. It is possible the present eruption may continue as long, and be as mild in its operation. But as late as 1650 a terrible ernption laid waste great part of the island, and raised an island on its northeastern coast which soon sank again into the sea, leaving a shoal. Tuo islatrJ ot" Old Kaimene made its first appearance in the ye.ir 198 before the Christian ei\i. Its size was increased by several eruptions mentioned in history. The last addition it received was in 1-457. The Small Kaimene, which is nearest to Thera, was thrown up in 1574. All the eruptions in the bay have been attended with similar phenomena, and the best accounts of them will be found in the works of the Abbe Pegiios and Dr Ludwig Boss : — " Histoire et Phenomenas da Voican et lies Voleaniques de | Santorin." Paris, Imprimierie Royale, I 1842. " Reisen ant' den Grieehisdieu I Ins-jln dea Aeg&eischen Moers." Von Dr Eudwig Boss.