Fires of the Earth: The Laki Eruption, 1783-1784This account of the greatest lava flow in historical times, which occurred in Iceland only two hundred years ago, is a unique eye-witness record of a dramatic natural catastrophe which threatened the lives of a small nation in the high north. It was the Reverend Jon Steingrimsson, a living legend in his day for a sermon said to have halted the glowing molten lava as it cascaded towards his church, who described this merciless outburst of nature's fury. His original observations and insights make this work at once a scientific classic and a literary gem. With typical humility, the author describes his own motive for writing it: "I thought it would be unfortunate if these memories should be lost and forgotten upon my departure, as have so many other works of God which have, for lack of care, been lost forever." |
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according animals appeared became began buildings called canyon caused church cloud completely continued course covered cows cross damage death describe destroyed died direction district earth earthquakes east eastern effects eruption especially expected famine farm farmers fear fell felt field fiery fishing flames Fljótshverfi flood of fire flow God's grass ground headed heard horses hundreds Iceland intended Jón Kirkjubæjarklaustur land later lava leave less light lived lyme grass managed meadows Meðalland month mountains moved natural never older once poured previously rain reached region remained reports result river Skaftá sand seen sheep Síða area side signs Skaftártunga Skál smoke sounds spread spring stream stretches summer surge things thunder tion turned volcanic waste weather week wind winter
Bibliographic information
| Title | Fires of the Earth: The Laki Eruption, 1783-1784 |
| Author | Jón Steingrímsson |
| Publisher | Nordic Volcanological Institute, 1998 |
| Original from | Northwestern University |
| Digitized | Apr 27, 2011 |
| ISBN | 9979542446, 9789979542445 |
| Length | 93 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |