Impressive Volcanic Eruption

Stereoview
Impressive Magnificence of a Volcanic Eruption in Java, Dutch East Indies.
Any opening in the earth that throws up hot rock and steam is a volcano. Usually a volcano builds up a cone-shaped peak about its crater, as the mouth of the opening is called. A volcano is said to be "active" when it bursts forth from time to time. These outbursts are called eruptions. They sometimes wipe out whole cities several miles from the peak.

We know that the inside of the earth, or at least parts of it, are very hot. This heat causes gases to form and these after a time explode. A study of the view shows the result. In the upper left corner is an area of steam. Dense smoke, and what is termed ashes and cinders make up the heavier parts of the eruption. Melted stone, called lava, pours over the edge of the crater and runs down the sides of the cone. The built-up peak stands out clearly like a mound of ice. Many volcanoes are entirely extinct, and many are inactive for years at a time. Then rumblings are heard inside for days or months, until finally an eruption takes place. There are volcanoes in North America, but most of the active ones are in Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. Many islands in the Pacific have been thrown up by volcanic upheavals.

Java is an island in the East Indies. It belongs to the Netherlands. Much of the soil is very rich. Rice, sugar, coffee, tea, tobacco, cotton, maize, and indigo are grown on the large plantations. Its chief mineral is tin. Java is slightly larger than Pennsylvania, but it has almost one-third as many people as the whole United States. The capital and most important city is Batavia.

Comments are closed.