THE NEW GREEK ISLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1692, 19 May 1866, Page 2

THE NEW GREEK ISLAND.

(From the Times Athens Correspondent.) A new island began to rise above the level of the sea in the Bay of Thera (Santorin) on the 4th iristi, and in five days it attained the height of from 130-ft. to 150 ft., with a length of upwards of 350 ft. and a breadth of 100 ft. It continues to increase, and consists of a. rusty, black metallic lava, very heavy, and resembling half smelted scoria which has boiled up from a furnace. It contains many small whitish semi-transparent -particles disseminated through the mass like quart* or felspar. The shape of Santorin on the map gives an idea of its volcanic formation. It appears to be the eastern half of an immense crater, stretching in a semi-circle round a bay in which the sea now covers the seat of volcanic action. The destruction of the south-western rim of the crater let in the water. The northwestern portion is the island of Therasia. The bay is about six geographical miles long, and upwards of four broad. Near the centre there are three islands which haTe risen from the sea during eruptions recorded in history, —Palain, Nea, and Mikre KaimSne, or Old, New, and Little 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'discoloured, and impregnated with sulphur from abundant springs, at the bottom. The flames rose at intervals to the height of 15 feet, ami were seen at times to issue from the south-western p irt of Kaimeoc. That island was soon rent by a deep fissure, and the southern part sank considerably. ~Ou the 4th of February the eruptions ■' became more violent aid the sea more dis- ' turbed. Gas forced itself up from the depths with terrific noise, resembling the bursting of a steam boiler ; flames arose 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 Kai niene, The new island has been visited by Dr. Dekigalla, a man of science and an able observer, who will record accurately nil the phenomena of the present eruption as 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 in the Admiralty chart 100 fathoms, it was found to be now only 30, and at another where it was 17 it is now only three fathoms. The new island, as it increases, will probably form a junction with Nea Kttimcnc. It grows, as it were, out of the sea, the mass below pushing upwards that which is already above water. The lower part is hot; its fissures, where they are deep, being 170 Fahrenheit, and the upper part, after four days' exposure, was found to be still 80. _ At present the centre of the volcanic force lies evidently far below the bottom of the sta, and only gases and smoke work their way through the incumbent eartk to the water, and escape in noise, flames, and smoke nt the surface. But should a Assure at the bottom of the sea allow the water to penetrate to 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 Pompeii, but far more terrible. The eruption that formed the resent island

of Nea Kaimeni began in the year -17Q7, and the volcanic action continued without doing any serious injury to the inhabitants of Thera until 1713. It is possible the present eruption mfiy continue as long, and be as mild in its operation. But as late as 1650 a terrible eruption laid waste great part of the island, and raised an island on its north-eastern coast, which soon sank again into the sea, leaving a shoal. The island of Old Kaimene made its first appearance in the year 198 before the Christian era. Its size was increased by several eruptions mentioned in history. The last addition it received was in 1457, The Small Kai'mene, which is nearest to Thera, was thrown up in 1573. 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 Pcgues and Dr. Louis Ross :—Zfisfoi're et PhcnomenesduVokanct lies Volcaniques de Santorin. Paris, lmprimerie Royale, 1842. Seism auf den Griechischcn Inscln dct Aeqaeischen Mecrs, Von D. Ludwig Ross.