The Botany of Iceland - 01.12.1914, Síða 8

192
THORODDSEN
The coast of Iceland is upon three of its sides indented by
fjords and bays, while the south coast is almost wanting in inden-
tations — fjords, harbours, etc.; the coast-line is best developed to-
wards the north-west, where a peninsula with many fjords projects
from the main land. The coast-line of Iceland is about 6000 km. in
length, of wliich one-third belongs to the north-western peninsula.
The indentations of the coast may be divided, according to their
origin and size, into two groups, the large bays which are probably
formed by the sinking of the earth’s crust, and the fjords proper
which appear to owe their origin chiefly to erosion. Along the south
coast the great Jökulls (snowfields) descend toward the sea and the
masses of gravel carried down from the glaciers have, in the course
of time, íilled up all the fjords, causing the sea outside the fjords to
be so shallow that it is dangerous for vessels to approach the coast.
The breakers throw up bars of coarse shingle which dam the waters
of the numerous glacier-rivers, and so shoals and shifting lagoons
are common along this coast; the largest of them are to be found
towards the south-east (Alftafjörður, Papos and Hornafjörður). In
the western part of the south coast the fjords and bays of olden
times have been filled up not only with the sediments of glacier-
rivers, but also with great lava-streams. From the west two large
bays, F'axafjörður and Breiðifjörður, extend inwards, they are separ-
ated by the mountainous and volcanic Snæfellsnes. The former of
these bays is 68 km. in length and 90 km. in breadth, the latter
124 km. in length and 74 km. in breadth; from them several small
fjords extend inwards, especially from Breiðifjörður, which at its
head divides into two large arms, Gilsfjörður and Hvammsfjörður.
The north-western peninsula (Vestfirðir), as mentioned above, is in-
dented by numerous fjords, and there are several excellent harbours,
trading-stations and fishing villages in those fjords which turn their
mouths towards the north-west; of these fjords the largest are Arnar-
fjörður and Isafjarðardjup, both of which have many branch-fjords.
On the north coast there are also many Iarge indentations which
are separated by mountainous peninsulas; of these bays and fjords
the following are the largest, proceeding from west to east: Húna-
ílói, Skagafjörður, Eyjafjörður, Skjálfandi, Axarfjörður and Thistil-
fjörður; and from these larger bays several smaller fjords extend
further into the country. Of the peninsulas the following may be
mentioned: Skagi, Tjörnes, Melrakkasljetta and Langanes; the two
large peninsulas on either side of Eyjafjörður have no distinctive